There are 1,300 Kenyans banged up abroad but Tanzania tops the list in the region with 79 Kenyans behind bars

Tanzania has the highest number of Kenyans incarnated in the region.

According to Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma there are 1,300 Kenyans serving jail terms in other countries and more than 2,000 foreigners are cooling their heels in Kenyan prison.

Out of the number, 79 are in Tanzania, 47 in Uganda, and 15 in Ethiopia.

“There is nothing unusual about Kenyans being in foreign jails particularly if processed following due process” Juma said when she addressed media on Thursday.

Just a few months ago, Uganda used to top the list in Africa with 47 Kenyans behind bars with most held for terrorist charges following the World Cup terrorist attack but the country has since been overtaken by Tanzania.

“Our Kenyan embassies are providing consular services to all the 1300 inmates,” she said.

Kenya and Tanzania enjoy a frosty relationship and early this year the country deported 71 Kenyans for allegedly being in the country unlawfully.

Similarly it auctioned 1,300 Kenyan cattle for about Sh93 million after it crossed over to its border.

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A few days later, the country burnt to death 6,400 one-day-old chicks from Kenya, on suspicion they could spread bird flu.

However, despite the frosty relationship Kenyans continue to troop to Tanzania in large numbers.

A total of 233,730 Kenyans crossed over to Tanzania in 2016, an increase of 36,000 from the 2015 figures, according Tanzania’s Immigration Services Department data.

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