Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has weighed in on the controversial elections in Tanzania, saying the events unfolding there show that democracy remains an elusive dream across much of Africa.
Speaking during a TV interview on Thursday, October 30, 2025, Cherargei drew parallels between Tanzania’s political climate and broader democratic struggles in the continent. He recalled a past remark by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who once mocked Kenya during the Gen Z protests by saying, “kwa jirani kunawaka.”
“When I saw what happened yesterday in Tanzania, I remembered what Samia Suluhu once said, ‘kwa jirani kunawaka.’ She was chiding us then, but we wish her well,” Cherargei remarked.
His comments came as protests erupted in Dar es Salaam, prompting authorities to impose a 6 p.m. curfew. Cherargei said the elections appeared predetermined, claiming the incumbent president faced no real opposition.
“I think she has already won the elections. It was about Samia versus Suluhu and Suluhu versus Hassan,” he quipped.
The senator criticised Tanzania’s political environment, saying democracy cannot thrive without open competition. “When you want to do democracy, open the democratic space,” he said, warning that youth unrest across Africa signals deeper governance challenges.
Cherargei recounted his visit to Tanzania earlier this year, where he observed that only Suluhu’s campaign was visible nationwide. “From Namanga all the way to Dodoma and Arusha, you only see posters of Suluhu,” he noted.
Comparing the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) to China’s Communist Party, Cherargei said the party’s dominance extends beyond the presidency.
Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu echoed Cherargei’s sentiments, expressing hope that Tanzania will eventually overcome political suppression.
Cherargei also cited Uganda as another case of authoritarian control, saying, “Free and fair elections do not begin on the ballot but with the entire process.”
