Kenyan President William Ruto has apologized to neighboring Tanzania following a tense diplomatic row sparked by the recent detention and deportation of prominent East African activists.
Speaking at a national prayer breakfast on Wednesday, Ruto extended an olive branch to Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan, whose government has faced criticism after activists from Kenya and Uganda were detained and expelled.
“To our neighbors from Tanzania, if we have wronged you in any way, forgive us,” Ruto said. “If there is anything that Kenyans have done that is not right, we want to apologize.”
The diplomatic spat erupted after activists, including Kenyan Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan Agather Atuhaire, traveled to Tanzania to attend the trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. They said they were held incommunicado for days, tortured, and later dumped at the border by Tanzanian security forces — allegations that Tanzania has yet to address.
Tanzanian lawmakers on Monday accused Kenyan social media users of cyberbullying and disrespecting their country’s sovereignty. They also slammed young Kenyans for “meddling in domestic affairs” by criticizing President Samia’s stance on the activists’ presence.
The row has spilled onto social media, with Kenyans and Tanzanians trading barbs online. Tanzanian MP Jesca Msambatavangu said she received a flood of WhatsApp messages from Kenyan users, forcing her to briefly shut off her phone. However, she encouraged dialogue, inviting young Kenyans to join a WhatsApp group for further discussion.
Ruto also used the platform to apologize to Kenya’s young people, known as Gen-Zs, who have been highly critical of his government since the deadly anti-tax protests last June.
The diplomatic tensions highlight the complex balance between regional ties and domestic sensitivities in East Africa, as well as the growing role of social media in fueling cross-border disputes.
