Advocate of the High Court Kibe Mungai has sharply condemned the Kenyan government’s handling of cross-border repression, calling it a “complete letdown.”

Speaking on November 10, 2025, Mungai criticized the administration for failing to protect Kenyans in neighboring countries, particularly Tanzania and Uganda. “Tanzania is backward, Uganda remains a military dictatorship, and Kenya is a betrayer.”

“How can President Ruto not protect our citizens to the point that dictators are bragging about torturing them? The repression of our citizens is a complete letdown,” he stated, highlighting concerns over the safety of nationals abroad.

Calls for government accountability

Mungai’s remarks coincided with former Agriculture Cabinet Minister Kipruto Arap Kirwa’s critique of the state’s slow response to incidents involving Kenyans abroad. Kirwa emphasised the government’s duty to safeguard its citizens and their property.

“It’s very interesting the way we treat our citizens because you see the prime responsibility of any regime or any government in power is the protection of the people of the country whether they are here or abroad and also protection of their property,” he said.

His comments followed the release of activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, who were abducted in Uganda on October 1 and held for 39 days, with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi citing sustained diplomatic efforts as key to their release.

Regional implications and public sentiment

Mungai and Kirwa’s concerns reflect broader unease over regional integration and political stability. Mungai compared the current government unfavorably to former President Uhuru Kenyatta, noting public dissatisfaction over taxation and social programs.

“When evidence is presented that things are not actually as rosy as they try to project, their immediate excuse has always been Uhuru Kenyatta, that they inherited a mess,” he said. Kirwa highlighted that harassment of Kenyans abroad threatens the East African Community goals.

“You see if whatever we are reading now through the media is that Kenyans are being targeted in Tanzania and even to a certain extent by the regime in Uganda is a very dangerous phenomenon given the fact that we ought to be talking of regional integration,” he stated.

Both warned of potential unrest in Uganda and Kenya and stressed that change is inevitable. Moses Kuria also defended Uhuru’s role in critiquing the government, saying, “Uhuru Kenyatta has every right to express his views about everything and anything. Uhuru Kenyatta has every right to promote the Jubilee Party as its leader. I stand with Uhuru Kenyatta.” The comments underscore growing disillusionment with the Kenya Kwanza administration’s ability to protect and serve its citizens at home and abroad.