Eyebrows up as Tanzania President John Magufuli absent from Nairobi Blue Economy conference

President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Chairman of Inspiring global trade Jaswinder Bedi during a sustainable Blue Economy conference at KICC. [Beverlyne Musili, Standard]

The absence of Tanzania's president John Pombe Magufuli at the Blue Economy Conference in Nairobi has once again raised eyebrows.

Magufuli's failure to attend the Blue Economy Conference is, however, in line with his disdain for conferences, which he has cut to a bare minimum, shoe-string-budget affairs in Tanzania.