Oscar Sudi commends Samia Suluhu following deportation of Kenyan activists
Kapseret Member of Parliament (MP) Oscar Sudi has praised Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan for deporting Kenyan activists who attempted to attend the treason trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
In a video shared on his official social media channels on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, Sudi, while commending Suluhu’s decisive action, suggested that if he were in her position, he would have subjected the activists to corporal punishment to instil respect.
Sudi further pointed out that Kenyan activists should not export their brand of activism to neighbouring countries.
“Nimeona asubuhi, Twitter, Facebook, maredio, TikTok, kumewaka moto sijui wakenya walifanyiwa nini huko Tanzania, kwanza ingekuwa mimi ningewaweka viboko hii kimbelembele yetu hapa Kenya msipeleke nchi yengine Hii freedom tuko nayo ni mingi; unaweza ongea vile unataka, hii kimbelembele yetu hii msipeleke kwa nchi nyingine, hii ujuwaji yetu iishie tu hapa Kenya,”Sudi said.
The lawmaker also cautioned Kenyans against interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, emphasising that the freedom of expression enjoyed in Kenya should not be presumed acceptable elsewhere.
“Kwanza ningekuwa mama Suluhu, ningeweka wao viboko mbili mbili siku mbili ndio warudi nyumbani wakiwa na heshima hii kimbelembele yetu na demokrasia na uhuru tuko nayo fanyieni tu hapa.
In addition, Sudi urged the Tanzanian president to be alert and not to allow further interference from Kenyan activists.
“Mama Suluhu chonjo kabisa wakikuja next time make sure wamekula maharagwe, wajue hii ujuwaji ya Kenya hawawezi kupeleka kwa nchi yengine,”he added.
Sudi on internal activism
The vocal parliamentarian further suggested that the deported activists should have focused their efforts on defending Kenyans imprisoned locally, rather than attempting to attend Tundu Lissu’s trial in Tanzania.
“Kesi zimejaa kortini, si musaidie watu wenye hawajiwezi wamezama huko kwa maprison, na hakuna mtu anawafanyia kesi huko kortini, si mujitole mfanye free,”he suggested.
Boniface Mwangi detained
Sudi’s remarks come amid concerns over the whereabouts of activist Boniface Mwangi. However, on May 20, 2025, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign and Diaspora Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi confirmed that Mwangi is still detained in Tanzania.
According to Mudavadi, the Kenyan embassy in Tanzania is in touch with Mwangi in terms of trying to figure out how he can be helped so that he can find his way back home.
“Boniface Mwangi is in Tanzania, and I have been in touch with the Kenyan mission there. He is being held by the authorities, and we hope that he will be released. Our embassy is in touch with him as well in terms of trying to figure out how he can be helped so that he can find his way back home,” Mudavadi said.
Mudavadi further suggested that the Kenyan activists found themselves in trouble for jetting into Tanzania at a time the country is in its electioneering period, thus the high tensions.
Deported Kenyans
Among the Kenyans who were deported from Tanzania are former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga; People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua; human rights defenders and lawyers Gloria Kimani and Lynn Ngugiactivist-cum-journalist Hanifa Adan; and activist Hussein Khalid.
They were all deported after being detained at Julius Nyerere International Airport and denied entry into the neighbouring country.
