Wycliffe Musinde
NAIROBI, Kenya,
The Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued an urgent appeal for information on citizens potentially in danger in Tanzania and other countries following violent unrest linked to Tanzania’s recently concluded general elections.
In a public notice shared via its official Diaspora Affairs account, the ministry called on Kenyans abroad to help identify nationals who may require assistance, citing growing security concerns after the October 28 elections that returned President Samia Suluhu Hassan to office.
The polls, marred by allegations of irregularities and widespread violence, have left hundreds feared dead, according to opposition figures and rights groups. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch reported credible evidence of mass arrests and killings in cities such as Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and Mwanza, though the Tanzanian government has yet to release official casualty figures. Independent observers, including the European Union Election Observation Mission, also cited incidents of voter intimidation and excessive use of force.
While the Kenyan government has not disclosed the number of nationals affected, officials estimate that over 50,000 Kenyans live and work in Tanzania—many in trade, agriculture, and the informal sector.
“Dear Kenyans,” the ministry’s notice begins, acknowledging rising public concern. It urges citizens to share names, contacts, and locations of any Kenyans “exposed to any sort of danger in our neighbouring countries and faraway nations,” and, where possible, include relatives’ details to help coordination through the ministry’s @Diaspora_KE handle or the Kenya High Commission in Tanzania (@Kenyahc_tz).
The ministry reminded citizens that all Kenyans abroad must register at the nearest mission or through the eCitizen portal, as indicated in the Kenyan passport. It warned that non-registration had slowed previous emergency responses, such as the 2023 Sudan evacuation, when over 400 Kenyans were airlifted to safety.
“All the information you provide will be shared immediately with Kenya’s missions abroad for action…..The Ministry will provide feedback to those who share the necessary information,” the notice stated.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei emphasized collective responsibility in safeguarding Kenyans overseas.
“We must all act quickly to register and report any compatriots in distress. Our unity is our best defense,” he said.
Dr. Sing’oei added that the Kenya High Commission in Dar es Salaam has activated a 24-hour emergency hotline (+255 22 211 7586) and is working with Tanzanian authorities to facilitate safe passage for Kenyans returning through the gazetted border posts.
The appeal also forms part of Kenya’s wider crisis response framework, which has guided successful evacuations from conflict zones, including the 2024 Lebanon crisis that repatriated over 800 nationals.
Kenyans with information are urged to email diaspora@foreignaffairs.go.ke or use the ministry’s secure online portal, with assurances of confidentiality and prompt action.
As tensions persist, the ministry has advised against non-essential travel to parts of Tanzania affected by the unrest, mirroring updated travel advisories by the U.S. State Department and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, both of which raised Tanzania to a “reconsider travel” status on November 3.