NAIROBI - Former Agriculture Minister Kipruto Arap Kirwa on Monday, November 10, 2025, condemned what he described as the Kenyan government's slow and inadequate response to a rising number of incidents involving the harassment, detention, and unfair targeting of Kenyan citizens in neighbouring Tanzania and Uganda. His remarks amplify a growing public outcry over the tangible risks faced by Kenyans working and trading across the region, putting a spotlight on the strains within the East African Community (EAC) and the effectiveness of Kenya's foreign policy in protecting its diaspora.

Kirwa's statement follows a turbulent period in regional relations, particularly with Tanzania, where a post-election crackdown and protectionist economic policies have created a hostile environment for foreigners. The most recent flashpoint involves a security operation in Tanzania following the disputed October 29, 2025, general election. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, in a speech on November 3, blamed the ensuing violent protests on foreign elements, leading to a crackdown in major cities like Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, and Arusha that reportedly targeted foreign nationals. This has led to harassment, detentions, and even the death of a Kenyan teacher, John Okoth Ogutu, who was reportedly killed in Dar es Salaam on October 29.

In response to these events, Kenya's Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, held talks with his Tanzanian counterpart, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, on Thursday, November 6, 2025. Mudavadi's office confirmed that Kenya formally submitted specific cases of rights violations for action and received assurances that law-abiding foreigners would be protected. However, critics like Kirwa argue this intervention came too late and lacks the firmness required to deter future abuses.

Trade Wars and Treaty Violations

Beyond the immediate security concerns, Kenyan businesses have faced significant economic hostility. In July 2025, Tanzania issued the 'Business Licensing (Prohibition of Business Activities for Non-Citizens) Order, 2025,' which barred foreigners from 15 sectors, including mobile money, retail trade, and salons. This move, which directly threatened the livelihoods of thousands of Kenyans, was widely seen as a violation of the EAC Common Market Protocol that guarantees the free movement of services and the right of establishment.

The Kenyan government formally protested the directive to the EAC Secretariat. Following weeks of diplomatic pressure and bilateral talks, Tanzania announced on Friday, October 3, 2025, that it had exempted Kenyan traders from the ban. While the reversal was welcomed, the initial action exposed the fragility of regional agreements and the vulnerability of Kenyan enterprises to unilateral policy shifts by partner states.

Challenges in Uganda

Relations with Uganda have also been fraught with challenges, though recent diplomatic efforts have aimed to smooth over long-standing trade disputes. Throughout 2025, Kenyan and Ugandan officials have held several high-level meetings to address non-tariff barriers that have historically hindered the flow of goods like milk and eggs. A significant agreement was reached on Saturday, August 30, 2025, to eliminate these barriers and decongest border points. This followed a state visit by President Yoweri Museveni to Nairobi in late July 2025, where both he and President William Ruto committed to resolving outstanding issues.

However, the security of Kenyans in Uganda remains a pressing concern. The abduction and 38-day detention of two Kenyan activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, who were taken on October 1, 2025, highlighted the risks. President Museveni later accused them of being “riot experts” linked to the opposition. Their eventual release on Saturday, November 8, 2025, followed intense lobbying from human rights groups and the Kenyan government, but the incident has been condemned as part of a worrying pattern of enforced disappearances in the region.

Calls for a More Robust Foreign Policy

Kirwa's criticism taps into the sentiment that Kenya's diplomatic posture is often reactive rather than proactive. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International Kenya and Defenders Coalition, have urged the Kenyan government to take a more assertive stance in demanding accountability and ensuring the protection of its citizens abroad. They have warned that rhetoric from foreign leaders can incite xenophobia and directly endanger Kenyans.

As the largest economy in the EAC, Kenya is a major beneficiary of regional integration, a point Mudavadi himself made to Parliament in August 2025 when cautioning against retaliatory measures. However, this economic interdependence underscores the need for a foreign policy that not only champions trade but also robustly defends the rights and safety of the citizens who drive that trade. The recent events in Tanzania and Uganda serve as a critical test for the government's commitment to its diaspora, with many, including Kirwa, arguing that a fundamental reassessment of its strategy is urgently required to prevent further harm to Kenyans within the East African Community.