‘Help us deal with them!’ Cherargei, Sudi praise President Suluhu for action against Kenyan activists

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargey has heaped praises on Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu for what he describes as dealing with Kenyan activists who run around meddling in the affairs of other countries.

Senator Cherargey, who spoke on the floor of the House on Wednesday, slammed the activists, accusing them of abusing their freedom and resulting in teaching other Kenyans ‘bad manners.’

He suggested that the Tanzanian Head of State should have gone further to detain and prosecute the arrested activists.

“Thank you, Suluhu, for calling out activists who wanted to distract the peace in Tanzania; in fact, she should have detained and prosecuted them because they have taught this country bad manners,” he said.

“The activists have taught our people to insult, undermine and lose respect for the leadership of this country. Tanzania is a very peaceful country, and we must respect our country.”

The Senator opined that Tanzania's President should, in the spirit of the East African Community, help the Kenya Kwanza administration deal with these activists.

“I hope that as activists run around East Africa trying to meddle in the internal affairs, they must stop. In the spirit of East Africa, she should assist us to discipline some of these ill-behaved activists that have continued to destabilise Kenya,” he stated.

Kapseret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi similarly took to his socials to laud the move by Suluhu, at the same time faulting the Kenyan activists for meddling in Tanzania's affairs.

Sudi noted that there is too much freedom in Kenya, which has since been abused by human rights defenders and even opined that President Suluhu's government could have punished them for taking 'Kenya's culture' to her country.

“Hongera Mama Samia Suluhu Hassan, Rais wa Muungano wa Tanzania, kwa kuwa jasiri wa kulinda nchi yako. Let's focus on domestic priorities, refraining from interference in external affairs to prevent unnecessary diplomatic tensions. Endelea uwanyoosha Mama!" He said.

According to the outspoken legislator, if he were the President, he would have whipped the said Kenyan activists and detained them for a few days to discipline them.

"Ingekuwa mimi ningewaweka viboko, hii kimbelembele yetu ya hapa Kenya msipeleke nchi nyingine; kwanza ningeweka hao viboko mbilimbili siku mbili ndio warudi nyumbani wakiwa na heshima," Sudi said.

"Ile kimbelembele na freedom yenye mko nayo huku Kwenya, fanyieni tu hapa lakini msipeleke nchi zingine. Kama ni kusaidia watu na kesi, jitoleeni mfanyie hapa kwa korti zetu free…ujuaji yetiu ya Kenya iishie tu hapa Kenya."

He said the activists should have used their services in the country for the benefit of the less fortunate.

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi on Tuesday also came to the defence of Suluhu's remarks as he took issue with Kenyans' recent “lack of integrity” in their conduct.

The remarks come after People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua, alongside Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Council member Gloria Kimani and member of the Pan-African Progressive Leaders Solidarity Network Lynn Ngugi, were detained at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam on Sunday and deported to Kenya. 

The three were headed to Tanzania at the invitation of the East Africa Law Society. Former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga was also deported, while activist Boniface Mwangi is still being detained in the country awaiting deportation.

President Suluhu addressed the issue on Monday, saying foreign activists would not be allowed to “interfere” in the country's affairs after several tried to attend the trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is facing treason charges.