Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’Oei has assured the family of slain teacher John Okoth Ogutu that the government will repatriate his remains from Tanzania, where he was killed in the post-election violence witnessed in the country in October 2025.

Taking to X on Saturday, November 22, 2025, the Foreign Affairs PS confirmed having met the family of the departed teacher ahead of the repatriation process.

According to Sing’Oei, the main reason the repatriation process took longer was the delay in swearing in Tanzanian government officials. However, with the new cabinet now in place, the PS is optimistic that the Tanzanian government will respond promptly to the matter, which the Kenyan Embassy in Tanzania has been consistently providing updates on.

Meeting family

”Met the family of the late John Okoth Ogutu, a schoolteacher in Tanzania, who lost his life during the post-electoral disturbances in Dar Es Salaam. Assured them of the government’s commitment to finding and repatriating the remains of our late national,” Sing’Oei said.

The particular stalemate had also prompted local human rights defenders to push for the repatriation of Okoth’s body by relevant authorities. Taking to X on Friday, November 21, 2025, VOCAL Africa had vowed to stand with the family of the deceased until the matter is resolved.

”VOCAL Africa stands firmly with the family of John Okoth during this difficult time. We are committed to following up on the urgent matter of repatriation to ensure their loved one is brought home,” the statement read.

2 Kenyans released

Sing’Oei’s assurance comes shortly after the Kenyan High Commission in Tanzania recently confirmed the release of two Kenyans who were arrested in the post-election protests in Tanzania, a crisis that has claimed hundreds of lives and resulted in dozens of people being apprehended.

Protests erupted on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, shortly after Tanzania conducted its general election exercise, as civilians protested against the harsh treatment of opposition leaders by the state when President Samia Suluhu sought to retain her seat while her closest challengers were behind bars.

Among the protesters who were arrested were lawyer Fredrick Lorent Obuya and John Gitahi Nderitu, a financial practitioner. Reports of their arrest prompted uproar in Kenya as families, friends and human rights defenders demanded the immediate release of Kenyan nationals held by Tanzanian authorities amid the political unrest in the country.

”The High Commissioner, H.E. Ambassador Isaac Njenga, received two Kenyans who had been arrested in Tanzania following the protests of 29th October 2025 during the General Elections. Mr Fredrick Lorent Obuya, a lawyer and tour operator, and Mr John Gitahi Nderitu, a financial professional, were released without charges to the custody of the Kenya High Commission in Dar es Salaam.”

“They thanked the mission & looked forward to reuniting with their families,” the commission said in a statement.