Mudavadi reassured that the matter had been resolved amicably through diplomatic channels and cautioned against inflaming tensions through public outrage.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has called for calm and diplomatic maturity amid escalating tensions between Kenya and Tanzania.

This comes in the wake of the detention of activist Boniface Mwangi in Arusha and the deportation of prominent Kenyan figures Martha Karua and former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga from Tanzania.

In a statement, Mudavadi reassured the public that the matter had been resolved amicably through diplomatic channels and cautioned against inflaming tensions through public outrage.

“Let me begin by reassuring you that the Government upholds and defends the rights of all Kenyans, wherever they are in this world.We use our diplomatic channels, often behind the scenes, to engage with our friendly countries to resolve difficult issues,” he said.

The incident, which has sparked online uproar, added fuel to growing concerns over what many civil society groups describe as Tanzania’s democratic backsliding under President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

Despite initial praise following her 2021 ascension to power for softening the authoritarian legacy of her predecessor John Magufuli, Suluhu’s administration is increasingly facing criticism for silencing dissent.

Human rights watchdogs, including Amnesty International and the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project, have voiced alarm at Tanzania’s renewed clampdown on opposition voices and perceived interference with regional civic space.

“The decision to deport these high-profile Kenyan figures while detaining a vocal activist sends a chilling message not just to Tanzanians, but to East Africans committed to free expression and cross-border solidarity,”the human rights activist said.

Online, the hashtag #FreeBonifaceMwangi trended for hours, with users accusing President Suluhu’s government of stifling dialogue and overreacting to criticism.

Several Tanzanian opposition leaders also condemned the detentions, calling them an affront to East African unity and the right to peaceful assembly.

Mudavadi urged Kenyans to remain composed and consider the larger diplomatic stakes.

“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,” he cautioned. The path to resolution lay not in confrontation, but in cooperation,”he noted.

He underscored the deep economic interdependence between the two nations, citing data from the 2025 Economic Survey that shows Tanzania as Kenya’s sixth largest export destination and ninth largest import source. He also noted that around 250,000 Kenyans live, work, or do business in Tanzania, relying on stable cross-border ties.

“No nation prospers in isolation. Kenya’s development is anchored in strong economic ties and strategic partnerships with our neighbours,”Mudavadi stated.

“I urge all Kenyans to see the bigger picture, to embrace the quiet power of diplomacy, to uphold the dignity of our flag, and to remember that we are part of a region, not apart from it,”he added. By Irene Mwangi, Capital News.

GENEVA

UN human rights chief Volker Turk on Friday called on Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to reject a newly passed bill that would allow civilians to be tried in military courts, warning it violates international human rights standards.

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces Amendment Bill 2025, passed by parliament on Tuesday, expands military courts' authority to prosecute a broad range of offenses involving civilians.

Turk, in a statement, expressed alarm that the legislation defies a landmark Supreme Court ruling in January, which declared the trial of civilians in military courts unconstitutional.

"I respectfully urge President Museveni to reject the retrogressive bill and take the necessary steps to comply fully and promptly with the Supreme Court’s decision," he said.

He also stressed that trying civilians in military courts generally breaches international human rights law which guarantees a fair, impartial, and independent judicial process. Such trials are only permissible in strictly limited and exceptional circumstances, according to the human rights office.

Turk voiced concern that the bill’s passage comes amid rising reports of political repression, including abductions, torture, and harassment of opposition members ahead of Uganda's 2026 general elections. Anadolu Agency

Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has called on President William Ruto to make public the details of their discussions on building a unified political alliance.

His remarks come after President Ruto claimed that he made advances to close ranks with Kalonzo only to face a rebuff that prompted him to consider his erstwhile political nemesis, Raila Odinga, instead. 

Ruto made the remarks on Thursday, May 22, 2025, while hosting a delegation of broader leadership from Ukambani leaders in the state house, a meeting that Kalonzo’s Wiper Party leadership gave a wide berth.

The delegation was led by Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary (CS) Alfred Mutua, among other leaders.

However, Kalonzo, a key member of the Loyal People Opposition coalition that seeks to oust President Ruto, has come out to refute any meeting with the head of state.

“I don’t remember meeting with Ruto. He should reveal where he met me. State House has these bloggers who have been blogging that I am in a meeting with Ruto. Maybe they were blogging, thinking they were helping the president’s cause, but they are not. It is why I’m asking, where did he say I met with him?” he quizzed.

Kalonzo has further affirmed his firm stance that he has no intention of teaming up with the ruling Kenya Kwanza government.

He holds that Kenyans have made up their minds over an administration that cannot escape being a one-term regime.

“This government, we must take it home at the earliest. The commitment from Kenyan people is amazing. Kenyans of goodwill are determined to take it home. So, how can I join the people who are going home?” he added.

The Wiper boss has implored Kenyans to wait for the opposition’s signal on the path the country will take as part of the strategy to dethrone the current administration.

“Let us wait for the new formation from the opposition and the call we will make. Their one term is inevitable. It has happened in Botswana and other countries,” he implored.

This is the second time the Wiper Leader has come out to deny claims of meeting with President Ruto.

On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, Kalonzo dismissed a past viral video that had been circulating on social media, which showed an interaction between him and Ruto.

Kalonzo then reaffirmed his loyalty to the opposition, stating that he remains steadfast in its commitment to the people, asserting that no amount of manipulation or false narratives could alter their resolve to stand by Kenyans.

“Why are they so panicky? The People’s Loyal Coalition will never be a party to the biggest betrayal of Kenyans for political expediency and temporary comfort,” he stated.

The video had sparked reports that Musyoka was walking into Raila’s steps by also joining Ruto, five days after the Ruto-Raila pact signed on Friday, March 7, 2025. By Luke Oluoch, People Daily