Family of Kenyan man killed in Tanzania protests demands ICC probe as body remains missing
By Cynthia Lodite, November 18, 2025The family of 33-year-old John Okoth Ogutu, a Kenyan teacher who had been living and working in Tanzania, is demanding the International Criminal Court probe into Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu following the death of their kin.
In an interview with a local media house on Monday, November 17, 2025, the family of Ogutu, who was killed in Tanzania on October 29, 2025, complained of frustration from Tanzanian authorities in their pursuit to trace his remains for repatriation and burial.
According to the relative Benard Minayi, the long wait is taking a toll on his ageing mother, and he is appealing to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intervene.
“It is very frustrating when we see both governments taking us round. We’ve been to the embassy of Tanzania several times, and the answers that we get from there really ni majibu yanayo vunja moyo sana…the government should do something,” Benard Minayi said.
The human rights organisations led by Hussein Khalid and Mwanse Ahmed have accused Tanzania of covering up the murders and want President Suluhu prosecuted for the crimes committed during the protests.
“Samia Suluhu aweze kukubali kutoka mamlakani ili tuweze kuhakikisha amechunguzwa kikamilifu na tunaitaka korti ya kimataifa (ICC) iweze kuingilia kati,” Hussein Khalid said.
On the other hand, Mwanse demanded that EAC, AU, and SADC must urgently intervene to restore normalcy and human rights in Tanzania.
“The EAC, AU, and SADC must urgently intervene to restore normalcy and human rights observance by, among other things, brokering an inclusive interim administration and a truth and justice mechanism,” Ahmed said.
The government confirms Ogutu’s death.
The government confirmed that a Kenyan national was shot and killed during the recent post-election unrest in Tanzania.
At the time, the Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, however, said the state is taking all necessary steps to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of 33-year-old John Okoth Ogutu, a Kenyan teacher who had been living and working in Tanzania.
“It is an unfortunate incident following the commotion that was there. A contact has been created in Dar es Salaam. I want to assure the family that the case will be handled in a manner that is respectful,” Omollo stated.