Farouk: Kenyan activists moved to Tanzania because they are afraid of competing with Ruto
President William Ruto’s aide, Farouk Kibet has chastised the Kenyan activists who travelled to Tanzania to express their solidarity with opposition leader Tindu Lissu, who is facing legal proceedings.
Kibet who was addressing a section of residents from South Mugirango on Thursday, May 22, 2025, expressed satisfaction in the deportation of the activists, claiming that they had taken their poor manners and political disorder to Tanzania because they want to compete with President Samia Suluhu as they are afraid of competing with President William Ruto.
He criticized them and called for their prosecution, insisting that Kenya respects its neighbours.
“Mnaona wamepeleka tabia mbaya Tanzania, sisi tunataka kuheshimu majirani, nchi zetu ni za nje. Nyinyi wakenya hapa kutoka South Mugirango hao watu ambao wako na bad manners; wafungwe wasifungwe? Wamehamia Tanzania kwa sababu wameogopa kushindana na William Ruto. Mnaona wameenda huko kushindana na Suluhu, tunawaambia wakuje hapa South Mugirango wauze sera wasiuze ukabila,” he said.
This loosely translates to;
“Some people have taken their poor behaviour to Tanzania, we want to respect our neighboring countries. They moved to Tanzania because they are afraid of competing with Ruto and now they have moved to Tanzania to compete with President Suluhu. We are urging them to come here and sell ideologies not ethnicity.”
Release of activists
Kibet’s remarks come shortly after the release of Activist Boniface Mwangi, who was among those who travelled in solidarity with Lissu.
Mwangi was arrested alongside Ugandan journalist and activist Agather Atuhaire shortly after arriving in Dar es Salaam. The two had travelled to attend and observe attend the treason trial of Lissu.
The activist’s release followed several appeals from a section of activists and his wife Njeri who pitched camp at the Tanzania High Commission in Nairobi as she joined a peaceful protest passionately calling for her husband’s release.
She was accompanied by fellow activist Hussein Khalid, who had gathered outside the diplomatic mission to seek answers regarding the whereabouts and safety of her husband, who was arrested in Dar es Salaam on Monday, May 19, 2025, alongside Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire.
Mwangi, a well-known human rights advocate and journalist, had travelled to Tanzania to observe a court session involving opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
Speaking to the press during the demonstration, Njeri condemned the Tanzanian authorities for what she called an unlawful detention, asserting that her husband had committed no crime.
“He is a human being. Does he have the wrong face having been in Tanzania? Does he have the wrong voice? Are there no rights in Tanzania? So if rights are violated, should he not say anything? I think it’s a question for the government of Tanzania, is that what they are about, violating human rights of any citizen?” Njeri asked, her voice trembling.
“We are the East African community so unless [Tanzania] are not part of that treaty, then they should let us know as well so that we know how to communicate with them,” she added.
Other activists including Hanifa Adan, Hussein Khalid, Gloria Kimani, and Lynn Ngugihad also been detained and deported from Tanzania while attempting to attend the treason trial of Lissu.
Prominent figures like PLP party leader Martha Karua and former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, were also detained and deported alongside the activists.
