Kenya and Tanzania have been caught up in what seemed like a diplomatic tiff following the detention of activist Boniface Mwangi by authorities in the neighbouring Swahili-speaking nation.

The continued detention sparked outrage online, with various Kenyans calling on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to call out President Samia Suluhu Hassan for violating human rights and other treaties.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi was also caught in the crossfire after he appeared to side with Tanzanian authorities despite a section of Kenyans raising concerns regarding the whereabouts of Boniface Mwangi.

However, in a statement on Friday, May 23, 2025, Mudavadi defended Kenya’s démarche to Tanzania and why it was not confrontational.

Long-standing ties

In his lengthy statement addressed to the nation, Mudavadi explained that Kenya and Tanzania share long-standing diplomatic ties, including non-interference in each other’s internal affairs.

He noted that while online activism can raise awareness on issues, it cannot replace the structured dialogue that preserves our bilateral ties and respect for each other’s sovereignty.

With that in mind, Mudavadi told Kenyans that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs resolved to employ a cooperation tactic in addressing what seemed like a diplomatic fallout between the two nations over the continued detention of Boniface Mwangi.

“Kenya and Tanzania share a long-standing relationship built on mutual respect, cooperation and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, While online activism can raise awareness on issues, it cannot replace the structured dialogue that preserves our bilateral ties and respect for each other’s sovereignty,” Mudavadi explained.

“The path to resolution lay not in confrontation, but cooperation. Our engagement with Tanzania was guided by mutual respect, discretion and the shared understanding that there is a deep bond between our peoples. Diplomacy works. It may seem slow, but it yields sustainable results and maintains the relationships vital to our nation’s well-being,” he added.

Trading partners

At the same time, Mudavadi informed citizens that Kenya cannot thrive in isolation. He detailed that the two nations mutually benefit from each other, and the country could not risk ruining the ties.

Further, he indicated that most Kenyans are employed in the neighbouring countries, noting that any diplomatic blunder could render them jobless.

“Other than social ties, our neighbours are our most important trading partners. Uganda is our top export market accounting for 43 per cent of our exports to the EAC market, while Tanzania ranks sixth and accounts for 23 per cent of our exports. The majority of goods exported in the EAC market are manufactured products by our factories in Kenya. Indeed, in 2024, the manufacturing sector employed 369,200 Kenyans, accounting for a large share of the formal sector employment. The income earned from exports generates jobs and fuels our economy,” Mudavadi broke down the numbers.

“Tanzania is also Kenya’s 9th largest source of imports, the only EAC country in the top 10. It ranks second in Africa, after South Africa. Beyond trade, approximately 250,000 Kenyans live, work do business in Tanzania. These individuals and their families depend on the income earned in our neighbouring country for sustenance and education back home in Kenya.”

Our freedoms

While acknowledging the various rights Kenyans enjoy as stipulated in the constitution, the prime cabinet secretary pleaded with the citizenry not to use them to jeopardise the country’s interests and other beneficiaries.

“Our constitution guarantees the rights of the individual, but those rights must not overshadow the interests of the millions of other citizens. We have an obligation to tread carefully and deliberately when dealing with neighbours, ensuring that the needs of one do not disrupt the prosperity of others and the socio-economic relations built over decades.”

Strategic Imperatives of Political and Economic Diplomacy. pic.twitter.com/dNvoBbW9T3

— Musalia W Mudavadi (@MusaliaMudavadi) May 23, 2025