President William Ruto has extended a formal apology to Tanzania and Uganda in an effort to ease rising tensions between Kenya and its neighbors.
Speaking on Wednesday, May 28, during the National Prayer Breakfast held at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, Ruto asked for forgiveness over any wrongdoing by Kenyans.
“Our neighbors from Tanzania, if we have wronged you in any way, forgive us,” said the President.
He also extended the apology to Uganda and the youth in Kenya.
“Our friends from Uganda, if there is anything that Kenyans have done that is not right, we want to apologize. To our children, if there is any misstep, we apologize. We want to build relationships that will move our countries forward,” he added.
The apology comes days after tensions flared between Kenya and Tanzania following the deportation of seven Kenyan activists who had traveled to attend the court hearing of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
Among those blocked from entering Tanzania were PLP party leader Martha Karua, former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, and several civil rights activists. Boniface Mwangi, who was among them, was arrested, held incommunicado, and later dumped in Ukunda, Kwale County, by Tanzanian authorities.
The move sparked strong criticism from Kenyan leaders, civil society, and international human rights groups.
In response, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu accused the activists of interfering in her country’s internal affairs with an aim to destabilize the nation.
“We have started seeing activists from our region invading and getting involved in our internal issues. If they have been controlled in their country, let them not come to mess ours,” she said.
On May 26, Tanzanian MPs lashed out at Kenya following online backlash against Suluhu. MP Joseph Musukuma said Tanzania had nothing to learn from Kenya, adding, “We are better than them in politics. We are cleverer. I know that we are not leading in English, but we have our lives.”
The President’s apology is seen as a step toward calming the diplomatic standoff and reaffirming Kenya’s commitment to peaceful regional cooperation.
