By Ongaga Ongaga
Human rights organisations have condemned the killing and detention of two Kenyans in Tanzania amid a wave of post-election violence that has reportedly claimed an unknown number of lives.
In a joint statement, VOCAL Africa, Defenders Coalition, and Amnesty International Kenya decried the killing of John Okoth Ogutu, a Kenyan teacher at Sky Schools in Dar es Salaam, who was allegedly shot dead by police on 29th October. .
They also demanded the release of Fredrick Lorent Obuya, a Kenyan reportedly held incommunicado at Oyster Bay Police Station since 31st October.
“These are not isolated incidents but part of the escalating repression by Tanzanian authorities following disputed elections,” the groups said.
They expressed alarm over Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s remarks blaming foreign nationals—particularly Kenyans—for the unrest.
“These unfounded claims endanger thousands of Kenyans living and working in Tanzania,” said Irungu Houghton, Executive Director of Amnesty International Kenya.
The organisations urged both governments to act swiftly, calling for Ogutu’s repatriation and an independent postmortem, as well as Obuya’s unconditional release.
They further warned that failure to act could prompt a legal challenge at the East African Court of Justice and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
It is estimated that up to 20,000 Kenyans live and work in Tanzania as teachers, traders, and professionals. The groups reminded Nairobi of its “unequivocal duty to protect its citizens abroad.”
“We stand in solidarity with the people of Tanzania in their struggle for human rights, freedom, and dignity,” the statement said.