Kenyan authorities continue to seek the release of two nationals still held in Tanzania following violent protests after the country’s October 29 General Election. The unrest left one Kenyan dead, while most others detained during the disturbances have been freed after diplomatic intervention.
Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi told the National Assembly on Wednesday that the government is in constant contact with Tanzanian officials to ensure the prompt return of the two remaining detainees.
“The government is providing the necessary assistance to ensure their prompt release,” Mudavadi said. He added that the post-election unrest had limited effect on Kenyan businesses operating across Tanzania.
Efforts to locate Kenyan teacher John Ogutu, who was reportedly shot dead during the violence, have so far been unsuccessful. Ogutu, employed at Sky School in Kinondoni District, was killed on October 29, 2025, at about 7:00 pm. Searches conducted in hospitals and mortuaries in Dar es Salaam and other regions have not produced his body.
“To date, and based on information received from the Kenyan missions in Arusha and Dar es Salaam, there has been one confirmed death of a Kenyan national linked to the unrest surrounding 29th October 2025. The deceased, Mr John Ogutu, was shot dead on October 29, 2025, at approximately 7:00 pm,” Mudavadi said.
Official records indicate that approximately 5,503 Kenyans live in Tanzania, reflecting strong economic and educational ties between the two nations. The post-election protests drew widespread attention due to alleged human rights abuses, with nearly 340 people arrested and charged with treason, according to court documents.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has called for caution in handling youth charged during the unrest and set up a commission to investigate the killings. In her first address to the 13th Parliament on November 14, 2025, she said:
“I recognise that many young people who were arrested and charged with treason did not fully understand what they were doing. As a mother and guardian of this nation, I direct that the rule of law be applied, and in particular, that the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions review the extent of the offences committed by our youth. For those who appear to have followed the crowd without intending to commit a crime, their charges should be dropped.”
Kenyan lawmakers have demanded that the government clarify measures to safeguard citizens abroad, including emergency assistance protocols, travel advisories, and communication systems maintained by the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.
Families of missing Kenyans continue to face uncertainty amid reports of killings, disappearances, and heavy-handed security responses. Testimonies from survivors and relatives suggest that many Kenyans who were travelling, working, or studying in Tanzania during the unrest have not returned, leaving communities anxious about their safety.
