Kenyans hold demonstrations against Tanzania’s president Magufuli

dennis kibet

March 27, 2017 5:25 PM

The protesters claimed that President Magufuli had deported their counterparts and Tanzanian authorities were targeting Kenyans living in their country illegally.

Kenyans during a demonstration at the Namanga border against the deportation of their counterparts from Tanzania, March 27, 2017.

Kenyans in Namanga on Monday held demonstrations against a deportation order against Tanzanian President John Magufuli.

The protesters blocked the busy Kenya-Tanzania border road at Namanga and stormed businesses owned by Tanzanians.

Most of the “foreigners” were rounded up and frog-marched across the border.

Tanzanian barmaids working in the border towns’ clubs were roughed up while some had their mobile phones taken away.

Kenyans arrested

Speaking to the media, Kajiado county commissioner Harsama Kello said the demonstrations began at the border after Tanzanian authorities arrested three Kenyans last week and arraigned for being in the country illegally.

Last year, Kenyans reacted angrily to a report published by a Tanzanian newspaper that stated that the country had commenced on evicting foreigners.

The assistant minister said the government would arrest, arraign in court and deport all those staying or working in the country illegally. He added that a number of foreigners were doing jobs that could be done by Tanzanians hence causing unemployment among the nationals in their own country.

Magufuli's government was allegedly reported to have cancelled all short-term visas as foreigners have been abusing the renewal provision.

However, The Tanzanian High Commission in Nairobi denied that the exercise dubbed "Operation Timua Wageni" was a move to free up jobs for locals.