Two Kenyan police officers are in custody in Tanzania after they were arrested while allegedly trying to arrest a suspect across the border, an incident that has drawn attention to the risks and sensitivities surrounding cross-border policing.
The officers, identified as Police Constables Patrick Kithinji and Ahmed Ali, are attached to the crime office at Tononoka Police Station in Mombasa. According to a report filed at Lungalunga Police Station in Kwale County, they were arrested on January 6, 2026, in the Horohoro area of Tanzania.
The two officers reportedly told authorities that they were pursuing a suspect known as Omar Ali, who is wanted in Kenya over allegations of obtaining money by false pretence. The offence is said to have occurred in Tononoka, prompting the officers to follow the suspect towards the Kenya–Tanzania border.
It remains unclear how far the pursuit went before the officers were intercepted by Tanzanian authorities. What is clear, however, is that the officers were arrested on Tanzanian soil, a move that immediately raised concerns over jurisdiction and procedure.
At the time of their arrest, Tanzanian officials reportedly recovered two Ceska pistols from the officers, each loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition. The firearms were confiscated.
The officers were travelling in a vehicle with registration number KDA 240P and were accompanied by a driver identified as Abdkadir Adan Ganyure, who is said to work with the Coast Development Authority.
All three the two officers and the driver are currently being held by Tanzanian authorities, together with the vehicle and the seized firearms, as officials determine the next course of action.
The incident underscores the delicate nature of cross-border security operations, which typically require coordination and formal clearance between neighbouring countries.
As of the time of publication, Kenyan authorities had not issued a public statement on the matter, even as questions linger over how the pursuit crossed into Tanzanian territory and what steps are being taken to resolve the situation.
