In a fiery public address that sent shockwaves across East Africa, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan fiercely defended the controversial detention and deportation of six Kenyan nationals, including high-profile figures former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and ex-Justice Minister Martha Karua, accusing them of trying to meddle in Tanzania’s internal affairs.
The Kenyan delegation had attempted to enter the country to observe the high-stakes treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, but Suluhu wasn’t having it. With unmistakable fire in her voice, she branded the move as “unwelcome interference by foreign activists,” drawing a firm line in the sand.
“If you can’t fix your own house, don’t come sweeping mine,” she declared, slamming what she called a “disturbing trend of external meddling.” She warned that foreign activists should think twice before parachuting into Tanzania with their democracy and human rights banners waving.
The dramatic showdown has ignited a regional debate on sovereignty, diplomacy, and the limits of cross-border activism, and Suluhu’s message is loud and clear: Tanzania will not be a playground for foreign political agendas.