Kimani Ngunjiri urges Kenyans to value democracy, citing Tanzania parallels
By Mabonga Makhanu, November 1, 2025Former Bahati Member of Parliament (MP) Kimani Ng’unkiri has drawn parallels between democracy in Kenya and Tanzania, urging Kenyans to value the strides the country has made toward democratic governance.
In a post shared on his social media handles on Saturday, November 1, 2025, Ng’unjiri compared East African countries, citing Tanzania as a notable example.
He highlighted the treatment of opposition leaders and other dissenting voices, noting that in both Tanzania and Uganda, opposition leaders are largely behind bars, whereas in Kenya, opposition leaders are allowed to operate freely, with the government doing little to hamper them.
He further urged Kenyans to appreciate the country’s progress toward democracy.
“Uganda kiongozi wa upinzani yuko wapi? Yuko jela. Mpinzani wa Tanzania yuko wapi? Yuko jela. Sisi Kenya tuna mmoja yuko jela. Tusichukulie democrasia yetu ya Kenya ovyo ovyo,” Ngunjiri said.
Situation in Tanzania
These remarks come after President Samia Suluhu was announced the winner of the Tanzanian elections with a landslide victory of 98 per cent, securing over 38 million votes. The announcement followed intensifying protests in several parts of the country in recent days.
The situation also coincided with the imposition of a curfew since election day, alongside an internet and network shutdown, a move defended by the Tanzanian Foreign Affairs Minister as necessary to prevent the spread of havoc and vandalism of key structures during the unrest.
“The internet will be restored on Saturday; we closed it because when we tried to open it, it created havoc among small groups of vandalisers who are creating problems with the vandalism.” The minister said
The minister assured citizens that internet connectivity would be restored later on the day of the election results announcement.
Ngunjiri further urged Kenyans not to use these freedoms wrongly by going to the extent of insulting their leaders on social media, since in other neighbouring countries, the internet they are using to do so would have been cut off.
He also urged the government to listen to the grievances raised by Kenyans as another way of upholding democracy.