President Uhuru Kenyatta has received a major endorsement from an unlikely source in neighbouring Tanzania.

Tanzania’s main opposition party Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) has declared its support for Kenyatta.

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According to Tanzania’s The Citizen, the party’s Chairman Freeman Mbowe told the council meeting at the weekend that after assessment, they had concluded that Mr Kenyatta was the right candidate for presidency and a better choice for democracy in Kenya.

Mbowe said Chadema was perturbed by Nasa leader Raila Odinga who backed Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) current  president John Magufuli during the 2015 General Election.

“We supported Raila Odinga during the 2012 elections in Kenya but to our surprise, when it came to the 2015 polls in Tanzania, he supported the CCM candidate, Dr John Magufuli. Odinga is a traitor,’’ said Mr Mbowe.

Mbowe commended Kenyatta for expanding democratic space during his term in office.

Chadema garnered 4.6 million votes against CCM's 8 million during the 2015 elections.

Presidents Kenyatta and Magufuli last year sought to downplay strained relations between the two countries when the latter visited the country.

The two presidents were keen to debunk perceptions of a 'cold war', which some observers have linked to the Tanzanian leader's failure to visit the country since he assumed office in November, last year.

Although Kenya is Tanzania's largest trading partner, the fact has been overshadowed by shadow-boxing arising out of peer rivalry, jealousy and battles for economic dominance.

Kenya last year has lost lucrative deals to Tanzania, including a decision by Uganda and Rwanda to overlook the country's oil pipeline in favour of Tanzania's.