Rejection at the border: Kenyan MP writes protest letter to President Samia

Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has written a protest letter to Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu, claiming that he was recently denied entry into the neighbouring country.

In the letter dated February 3, the legislator says he was barred from entering Tanzania by immigration officers. He alleges that he was arrested and even detained briefly at the Julius Nyerere International  Airport a month ago.

"I write to bring to your attention that when l recently visited Tanzania in December 2024. Upon arrival at the airport in Dar es Salaam, your immigration officers rejected my passport and casually informed me that l am on the list of persona non grata in Tanzania," the MP's letter reads in part.

"In total violation of my right to freedom of movement, they detained me for some time at the Julius Nyerere International Airport."

The MP further expressed his dismay: “I am a citizen of the East African Community, specifically Kenya, for that matter. I am an elected Member of the Kenyan Parliament, which is duly represented in EALA, whose seat is in Tanzania. Both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) guarantee persons right of movement into and out of nations upon following due process, which I did,” the legislator wrote.

The MP now wants President Suluhu's government to explain why he was denied entry.

"I am therefore placing his special request to your office to appraise me in writing on the reasons why l am not allowed to enter Tanzania for business or as a representative of the people of Kenya...I look forward to your response," demanded Mr Owino.

Last year, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni hit out at the MP over his alleged involvement in the country’s politics. At the time, he claimed that he receives intelligence reports where the Embakasi East MP's name comes up, and accused him of supporting his political opponents.