Detention of six activists in Dar exposes cracks in foreign policy

Activist Boniface Mwangi in a wheelchair at the Moi International Airport in Mombasa, on May 22, 2025. He was dumped at Horohoro after detention in Tanzania. [Kelvin Karani, Standard]

Kenyan officials have increasingly appeared to fail in their mandate to protect Kenya's interests when dealing with other forces. They give the impression that they do not know what they are supposed to do despite occupying critical offices of state.

Since the country's foreign policy projection and diplomatic application come into question, officials look confused, incompetent and make the country vulnerable.It then allows other countries to abduct people within its territory or condone the mistreatment of its citizens.

That question arose recently with regard to Kenya's relations with Tanzania and Uganda as well as with some extra-continental powers. It seemed compromised.

Kenya found itself compromised partly because policymakers sent conflicting signals, thereby appearing not sure of what national interests to protect were.

The impression of being confused, incompetent and vulnerable destroys Kenya's standing.

Officials then appear to sacrifice such vital interests as sovereignty, in exchange for peripheral ones and acquired the image of being proxy, doing the wishes of other countries, at the expense of national self-respect.

These include abductions, killings and perceived repression of critics. It did not look good when Kenyan officialdom appeared to condone what happened to Tanzania's CHADEMA opposition leader Tundu Lissu.

Lissu, a big critic of Tanzania's ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), claims to have Kenyan blood in his veins.

He actually does in the sense that when he was shot several times almost to death, he received treatment in Kenyan hospitals and Kenyans donated a lot of blood to save his life.

A sort of bond developed between him and Kenyan political activists who are equally critical of ruling circles.

Since the Kenyan and Tanzanian governments appeared to share some bad governance manners such as abductions, killings and repression, the bond was seemingly strengthened.

When the Tanzania government arrested and accused Lissu of treason, mainly because of calling for election reforms, therefore, six prominent Kenyan political players decided to go to Dar es Salaam to observe the trial, offer moral support and advocate for Lissu's release.

Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan was not pleased and she reacted by unleashing her wrath on Kenyan Lissu sympathizers whom she termed as "ill-mannered individuals from elsewhere" trying to enter Tanzania. Believing that the Kenyans wanted to destabilize her country, she declared Tanzania's internal security not debatable.

She would not allow "those who have spoiled their countries to cross over to Tanzania and spread their indiscipline here.... If they have been contained in their country, let them not come here to meddle. Let's not give them a chance.

They have already created chaos in their country."

She ordered the authorities not to let "those who have spoiled their countries to cross over to Tanzania", She wanted Tanzania's security agencies to act "appropriately" and added, "Let's not become a Shamba la Bibi... where anyone can come and say whatever they want."

To avoid becoming "Shamba la Bibi", the government detained six prominent Kenyans, the 'Dar Six' in two groups, each of three, at the Dar es Salaam International Airport.

One comprised former Chief Justice Willy Mutuga, Hanifa Adan and Hussein Khalid. The other had former Justice Minister Martha Karua, documentary producer Lynn Ngugi and LSK official Gloria Kimani.

Using social media, they let the world know that they were under detention at the airport for being, as Khalid wrote, "in solidarity with Tanzanian lawyers and human rights defenders."

Hanifa wondered what Suluhu was afraid of while Karua complained of the violation of her rights of free movement in East Africa because she is a citizen of the East African Community or Jumuiya.

Karua had previously appeared in Uganda to defend Ugandan Opposition leader Kiza Besigye.

The detention of the Dar Six aroused concern, both diplomatic and political, thereby increasing damage to Kenya's image.

Top officials of Kenya's Foreign Affairs ministry appeared to read from different scripts. PS Korir Sing'oei, for instance, seemingly agreed with Karua and pointed out that detention contravened EAC principles.

He stated, "We strongly urge the authorities in Tanzania to release the retired Chief Justice of Kenya and his delegation in line with the norms and commitments of the East African Community." Singoei, argued Karua, tried to put up a show of concern but he was not serious.

In contrast, Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi tried walking a diplomatic tight rope and ended up supporting Suluhu. Declaring that there was "some truth" in what Suluhu claimed, he added, "our approach and utterances ... sometimes lack serious integrity."

The two MFA top officials, therefore, muddled the situation. While Singoei appeared concerned about the fate of Kenyans in Dar es Salaam, Mudavadi seemed close to other President William Ruto 'insiders', cheering Suluhu to fix activists.

They are of the same mind as self-styled 'Engineer' Oscar Kipchumba Sudi who praised Suluhu "for being brave in protecting your country."

Nelson Koech, Chairman of Kenya's National Assembly Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee, argued that "if the Tanzanian government feels that Karua is not supposed to be in their country, they have a right and probably have reasons."

The Dar Six incident besmirched the image of both Kenya and Tanzania although it was heavier on Kenya than Tanzania. Differences at the top showed Kenya to be waffling diplomatically.

With influential 'Ruto insider' policy makers in Parliament encouraging Suluhu to be 'tough' on, and to cane the activists, Kenya appeared to have joined the camp of intolerant states that stifle opposing opinions.

Stifling diverse opinions allows governments to engage in abductions, killings, and political repressions. It undermined Kenya's desire to seem like democratic.

Appearing to play proxy to others, focus falls on the competence of policymakers who thereby become a subject of discussion.