NAIROBI—Prominent Kenyan political figures Martha Karua and Kivutha Kibwana have fiercely condemned the outcome of Tanzania’s general election, labelling the landslide victory of President Samia Suluhu Hassan a fraudulent exercise conducted amid a violent state crackdown and a communications blackout. Their remarks, made at a press conference in Nairobi on Sunday, 2 November 2025, amplify regional concerns over a deepening political crisis in the neighbouring country that threatens East African stability.

Tanzania's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared President Hassan the winner on Saturday, 1 November 2025, with a staggering 97.66% of the vote following the election on Wednesday, 29 October 2025. However, the process was marred by the systematic exclusion of major opposition figures. The main opposition party, Chadema, was barred from participating in April 2025 after it refused to sign an electoral code of conduct, demanding comprehensive reforms first. Its leader, Tundu Lissu, was arrested and charged with treason months before the polls. Another significant challenger, Luhaga Mpina of the ACT-Wazalendo party, was also disqualified from the race.

A Region on Edge

The aftermath of the poll has been violent. Protests erupted across major Tanzanian cities, including Dar es Salaam, leading to a severe crackdown by security forces. Chadema claimed on Friday, 31 October 2025, that as many as 700 people had been killed in the ensuing clashes. While that figure remains unconfirmed by independent sources, the United Nations Human Rights Office acknowledged credible reports of at least 10 fatalities and called for impartial investigations. The government has dismissed the opposition's death toll as “hugely exaggerated.”

In response to the unrest, authorities imposed a nationwide internet shutdown, disrupting communications and hampering the flow of information. The U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam issued a security alert on 31 October 2025, advising its citizens to shelter in place due to the violence and communication difficulties. The European Union, in a statement on 2 November 2025, expressed extreme concern over the killings, the internet shutdown, and widespread irregularities.

Kenyan Leaders Demand Action

At their Nairobi press conference, Ms. Karua, leader of the People's Liberation Party (PLP), and former Makueni Governor Kibwana questioned the silence of Kenyan President William Ruto, who is the current chairperson of the East African Community (EAC). “How do you explain the silence of William Ruto, who is the Jumuiya chairperson?” Ms. Karua asked, suggesting the EAC was becoming a bloc to protect incumbents rather than its people. They called for the election results to be nullified and for a transitional government to be established to oversee constitutional reforms and credible new elections.

Ms. Karua has been a vocal critic of President Hassan's government. In May 2025, she and a delegation of Kenyan lawyers were detained and deported from Tanzania when they travelled to observe Tundu Lissu's treason trial. Professor Kibwana, a long-time human rights activist, praised the Tanzanian youth for protesting the election, stating on social media platform X, “The spirit of Nyerere has entered into Tanzanian Gen Z and Tundu Lissu. They are demanding their country back.”

The crisis has direct implications for Kenya, which shares a long and economically vital border with Tanzania. On Thursday, 30 October 2025, Kenya's Interior Principal Secretary, Raymond Omollo, confirmed that security had been heightened at all border points, including Namanga and Isebania, to manage any spillover effects. The unrest has already reportedly caused fuel shortages and trade disruptions in neighbouring countries.

International Observers and Reactions

Despite the turmoil, the EAC deployed a 67-member election observation mission, led by former Ugandan Vice President Dr. Speciosa Kazibwe, on 24 October 2025. The mission's mandate was to assess the elections based on Tanzanian law and EAC principles. The AU Commission Chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, congratulated President Hassan on her victory but also expressed deep regret over the loss of life during the protests.

President Hassan, who first came to power in March 2021 following the death of President John Magufuli, has defended the election as “free and democratic.” In a victory speech on 1 November 2025, she accused protesters of being “unpatriotic” and vowed to use security agencies to ensure peace. With the opposition rejecting the result and calling for international pressure, the crisis in Tanzania appears set to deepen, posing a significant challenge to democratic norms and stability across the East Africa region.