Two Kenyans still held in Tanzania, one confirmed death after election unrest - Mudavadi
The CS said efforts to trace Kenyan teacher John Ogutu’s body in Tanzanian hospitals and mortuaries have not yielded results.
Two Kenyans remain in Tanzanian custody after violent protests erupted following the October 29 General Election, the government has disclosed.
Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi told the National Assembly on Wednesday that, while all other Kenyans detained during the post-election violence have been released following government intervention, only two remain in custody.
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He added that Nairobi is actively engaging Tanzanian authorities to secure their release.
“The government is providing the necessary assistance to ensure their prompt release,” Mudavadi said, noting that the protests had minimal impact on Kenyan businesses operating in Tanzania.
Mudavadi also noted that efforts to locate the body of Kenyan teacher John Ogutu, who was reportedly killed during the unrest, have so far been unsuccessful, prompting him to write two letters to his Tanzanian counterpart.
Ogutu, a teacher at Sky School in Kinondoni District, was shot dead on October 29, 2025, at approximately 7:00 pm.
The CS said efforts to trace Ogutu’s body in Tanzanian hospitals and mortuaries have not yielded results.
“To date, and based on information received from the Kenyan missions in Arusha and Dar es Salaam, there has been one confirmed death of a Kenyan national linked to the unrest surrounding 29th October 2025. The deceased, Mr John Ogutu, was shot dead on October 29, 2025, at approximately 7:00 pm,” he said.
Official records indicate that an estimated 5,503 Kenyans reside in Tanzania, reflecting growing labour mobility between the two countries. The unrest, which followed Tanzania’s elections, drew both local and international attention over alleged human rights violations. Court records show nearly 340 people were arrested and charged with treason during the protests.
In response, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan called for leniency for young people charged in connection with the unrest and launched a commission of inquiry into the killings.
In her first address to the 13th Parliament on November 14, 2025, she said, “I recognise that many young people who were arrested and charged with treason did not fully understand what they were doing. As a mother and guardian of this nation, I direct that the rule of law be applied, and in particular, that the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions review the extent of the offences committed by our youth. For those who appear to have followed the crowd without intending to commit a crime, their charges should be dropped.”
Kenyan legislators have pressed the government to explain measures in place to protect Kenyans living abroad and assess the current safety of citizens in Tanzania. They sought clarity on emergency assistance protocols, travel advisories and communication channels established by the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.
Meanwhile, families of missing Kenyans continue to search for their loved ones amid reports of killings, disappearances and excessive use of force by Tanzanian security agencies.
Activists, survivors, and relatives have documented accounts suggesting that many Kenyans travelling, studying, or working in Tanzania during the unrest have not returned home, leaving a trail of fear and uncertainty.
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