Six human rights defenders were arrested on Tuesday, December 9, after staging a peaceful petition outside the Embassy of Tanzania in Nairobi, amid rising fears of mass protests and an escalating crackdown across the border.
The group had camped outside the diplomatic mission early in the day, demanding accountability for what they described as “mass killings and systematic repression” in Tanzania following the contentious presidential elections, where President Samia Suluhu was declared winner in a process critics say lacked genuine competition.
In a strongly worded statement, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) accused President William Ruto’s administration of “shielding” the Tanzanian government instead of speaking out about the alleged abuses.
“Police have arrested five human rights defenders who were petitioning the Embassy of Tanzania in Kenya, demanding accountability for the mass killings overseen by Samia Suluhu since 29 October,” KHRC said.
Witnesses said the activists had gathered quietly outside the embassy entrance along Taifa Road before police moved in and bundled them into waiting vehicles. Those detained include Frederick Ojiro, Julius Kamau, Vincent Mboya, Lichuma, and Shem. A sixth activist was also taken in.
For the protesters, the demonstration was as much about solidarity as it was about regional responsibility.
“We’re here to express support for the people of Tanzania as they demonstrate against a dictatorship,” activist Geoffrey Mboya said shortly before the arrests. “We are part of the East Africa Community, and whatever happens in Tanzania affects all of us.”
The arrests came just a day after KHRC publicly endorsed calls for nationwide protests in Tanzania, where rights groups say the government has unleashed a coordinated assault on citizens challenging Suluhu’s rule.
KHRC and allied organisations accused Tanzanian authorities of deploying both local security forces and foreign mercenaries to suppress protests, targeting not only demonstrators but also religious leaders and human rights defenders.
They further alleged digital censorship, including shutdowns and content erasure, meant to conceal the extent of the violence.
Inside Tanzania, tension gripped major towns on Tuesday as residents were instructed to stay indoors. A CNN journalist reported deserted streets, shuttered shops, and a heavy military presence in several urban centres.
Nairobi police also heightened security, especially around Re-Insurance Plaza home to the Tanzanian embassy where officers maintained a conspicuous presence throughout the day.
With pressure mounting on regional leaders to address the crisis, human rights organisations warned that silence from neighbouring governments could embolden further abuses.
As the situation unfolds, families of the arrested activists are calling for their immediate release, while observers wait to see whether Kenya will maintain its guarded stance or finally confront its neighbour over a crisis that continues to spill across borders.
