There was tension at the Namanga border Thursday following a violent demonstration that left two Tanzanians dead and two Kenyans nursing serious gunshot wounds.
Chaos erupted at mid-afternoon when crowds massed at the border point, with Kenyans trying to cross to join demonstrations in Tanzania.
Protesters were condemning what they termed unfair and manipulated elections in the neighbouring country.
Witnesses say gunfire broke out after some protesters started pelting stones at officers manning the Tanzanian side of the border. Moments later, police opened fire, sending people running for safety in all directions.
The two Kenyan victims were shot in the abdomen and rushed to the Kajiado County Referral Hospital in critical condition.
The incident was confirmed by Kajiado County Police Commander Alex Shikondi, who said the two Tanzanians, aged 27 and 28, were shot dead by officers believed to have been firing from across the border.
“The officers were shooting from the Tanzanian side when the two were hit. The situation was chaotic and both Kenyans and Tanzanians were caught in the crossfire,” said Shikondi.
Earlier in the day, a group of Tanzanians was reported to have forced their way through the border checkpoint into Kenya, where they were joined by local residents.
The crowd lit bonfires and blocked the busy highway that links the two countries, chanting slogans demanding justice and transparency in Tanzania’s elections.
Videos on social media showed protesters waving flags, burning tyres, and clashing with police officers amidst clouds of tear gas.
The violent scenes prompted Kenya’s Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo to warn citizens against crossing into Tanzania to join the demonstrations, saying such actions would be unlawful.
“I don’t want to comment on Tanzania’s internal affairs, but here in Kenya, we have clear laws on how demonstrations should be conducted. Anyone wishing to protest must do so within the law,” he said.
On Thursday evening, security on either side of the border had been reinforced as Kenya and Tanzania moved in to try to restore calm and order.
