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Tension at Hororo border as Kenyan journalist is arrested by Tanzanian officers
31st October, 2025 03:20 PM
A Kenyan-based reporter, Juma Shoka, has been arrested by Tanzanian police officers at Hororo, along the Kenya–Tanzania border in Lunga-Lunga Sub-county, Kwale County.
The incident occurred at around 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 31, 2025, as Shoka and three other human rights defenders were conducting a fact-finding mission in the border area.
Shoka, who works for Nyota TV, was in the company of Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) Rapid Response Officer Francis Auma, Vocal Africa officer Waleed Sketi, and Concerned Citizen Bradley Ouna.
The group is said to have travelled from Mombasa early in the morning to assess the security and human rights situation at the border amid heightened political tension in Tanzania due to the ongoing general elections.
According to Auma, the team responded to a distress call from traders and residents who claimed business operations had been disrupted following heavy deployment of Tanzanian security personnel along the border.
Speaking through a voice note, Auma said Tanzanian police ambushed them immediately upon arrival.
Also watch: Kasmuel challenges regional leaders to learn from Tanzania’s election unrest.
While three of them managed to escape back into the Kenyan side, Shoka was overpowered and arrested.
“We left Mombasa around 7:00 a.m. and upon reaching Hororo, the Tanzanian officers, who appeared to have been tipped off, swiftly moved in and confronted us. Unfortunately, Juma was caught while we managed to flee,” Auma said.
He added that the journalist was in full reporting gear, complete with his press card, camera, and tripod stand, when he was detained.
Auma expressed deep concern over Shoka’s safety, urging Kenyan authorities to intervene and secure his release.
“We are worried about what might happen to the journalist because he is being held in Tanzania, and we have no communication or assurance of his well-being,” he said.
Tanzania ant-polls riot
The arrest came amid escalating anti-government poll protests over the credibility of the election, with the incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan accused of sidelining the opposition and most of the media from covering the elections.
Currently, Shoka is still in custody under Tanzanian authorities, though the exact location and circumstances of his detention remain unclear.
Protests have escalated in major cities across Tanzania as opposition supporters denounce presidential and parliamentary elections as a sham.
Hundreds of demonstrators also crossed into Kenyan territory, barricading roads, lighting bonfires and tearing down posters of President Samia Suluhu Hassan along the way.
Kenyan police said two people died after fleeing running battles with Tanzanian police.
Protesters accuse the government of undermining democracy, as the main opposition leader is in jail and another opposition figure was disqualified from the election, bolstering Samia’s chances of winning.
