Maraga says Ruto and Suluhu creating an ‘axis of tyranny’ in plans to discipline Gen Zs

During the first day of Ruto’s state visit to Tanzania, Suluhu urged Ruto to work with her to discipline Gen Zs who were causing trouble in the two countries by breaching standards in the name of democracy. 

"There is no need to be divided, to celebrate the vices that happen on either side. If they show up in Kenya, they are ours as well, and we should jointly deal with them, and the same should be done in Tanzania," Suluhu told Ruto in a joint address at State House, Dar es Salaam, on Monday.

Maraga has now termed the statement as an effort by the Kenyan and Tanzanian leaders to create autocracy in the region.

“Citizens of East Africa must speak up. The axis of tyranny that Presidents Suluhu and Ruto are constructing threatens to return our region to autocracy,” said Maraga. 

The former Chief Justice argued that the remarks were ‘abhorrent’ given the recent cases of human rights abuse reported in Tanzania during the 2025 general elections. 

He referred to a report by a Commission of Inquiry that revealed more than 518 people were killed during Tanzania’s election period. 

The commission, chaired by retired Chief Justice Mohamed Chande Othman, found that the majority of the deaths were caused by gunshot wounds, with others resulting from trauma and related injuries.

Maraga also questioned the inaction over the inhumane treatment of Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire. 

The two activists reported to have been tortured and sexually assaulted by the Tanzanian police between May 19 and May 23, 2025. 

Then, the two activists had travelled to Tanzania as part of an East African delegation to observe the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu.