Kenya, May 27 -- A Member of Parliament from Zanzibar in Tanzania has caused a big stir by allegedly saying that Kenyan youth activists should be killed during a meeting in parliament. This has increased tensions between Kenya and Tanzania.
The comments, which were shared on social media, have received a lot of negative reactions and have reopened discussions about how the two countries relate to each other and how politicians talk about such issues.
The MP reportedly criticised the actions of Kenyan youth, calling their protests disturbing and suggesting extreme actions to stop them.
It is reported that the MP said, "Mbunge kutoka Zanzibar aomba wanaharakati wa Kenya wauwawe," which means that he called for the killing of Kenyan activists.
Many people online are reacting strongly, with both Kenyans and Tanzanians expressing their anger and calling for diplomatic actions.
Kenyan activists and politicians, including well-known figures tagged in posts, have not yet made any official comments, but online reactions show rising frustration.
Another netizen wrote, "This is a dangerous move. Tanzania and Kenya are partners in the East African Community (EAC)-such statements hurt our unity."
Tanzanian users seem divided, as some support the MP's comments as a criticism of Kenya's protests, while others see it as reckless and dangerous.
The incident comes at a time when there are already tensions, as Tanzanian lawmakers have criticised Kenyan youth activism, saying it brings instability.
This has led to feelings of superiority and inferiority between the two countries, increasing national pride issues in the EAC. Experts are worried that such statements could harm diplomatic relations and make it hard for these countries to work together.
However, this situation is similar to a 2024 case when Kenyan MP Farah Maalim was criticised for making similar remarks about young Kenyan protesters.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.