Kenya High Commission in Tanzania Reassures Nationals After Post-Election Unrest
The Kenya High Commission in Dar es Salaam has assured Kenyans in Tanzania that their welfare and safety is top priority following the post election tension and unrest in the country.
In a statement released yesterday, the Mission confirmed that normal operations have resumed after the Tanzanian government lifted the curfew and other restrictions that were put in place after the general election.
“The Kenya High Commission in Dar es Salaam wishes to inform the Kenyan community in Tanzania that the Mission has resumed normal operations since the curfew and restrictions were lifted after the Tanzania general elections,” the statement read in part.
It added: “The welfare and safety of Kenyans in Tanzania is top priority for the Mission.”
The High Commission is working closely with the Tanzanian authorities to ensure all Kenyans living and working in the country are protected. It has also urged them to continue with their normal activities but be cautious.
“The Kenya High Commission is in touch with the relevant authorities in Tanzania to ensure Kenyans are safe and protected,” it said. “The High Commission advises Kenyans in Tanzania to continue with their lawful, normal activities as usual.”
The Mission has also advised Kenyans to remain calm and report any security concerns through its official channels. “Further, the Mission advises all Kenyans to remain calm, vigilant, observe local laws and report any security concerns or distress cases to the High Commission for assistance,” it stated, providing contact numbers for emergencies.
The assurance comes after violent protests broke out on October 29 as Tanzanians went to the polls to elect a new president and members of parliament. Protests were witnessed in major cities including Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza and Mbeya with police deploying tear gas, water cannons and live bullets to disperse the crowds.
The authorities responded by imposing a nationwide curfew and shutting down internet access across the country, disrupting communication for several days.
A Kenyan teacher who had lived in Tanzania for nearly a decade was reported dead. His family said they last spoke to him in September. “My brother has been in Tanzania for almost eight years. I remember the last time I talked to him was on 22nd September when he was wishing me my birthday,” his sister said.The family later found out that his body was at Mwananyamala Hospital Mortuary in Dar es Salaam. “The area where he died is Ubungo and the ward is Goba,” she said.
In a separate incident, 29 year old Kenyan lawyer Fredrick Lorent Obuya went missing after being arrested in Dar es Salaam on October 31 while on a work trip to Zanzibar. His last known location was Oyster Bay Police Station but he is still missing.
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Kenya High Commission in Tanzania Reassures Nationals After Post-Election Unrest