Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Babu Owino has spoken out following his brief arrest and detention at Nyerere International Airport in Tanzania last December.
According to the lawmaker, the incident was unnecessary and unjustified. He detailed that upon arriving in Tanzania, immigration officials informed him that he was not permitted to enter the country, despite having all of the necessary travel documents.
He was subsequently detained for several hours before being sent back to Kenya
“I was shocked by the manner in which I was treated. There was no clear explanation given for my denial of entry into Tanzania. As a leader and a law-abiding citizen, I find such actions unacceptable,” Owino stated.
“I have visited Tanzania before without any issues. This sudden turn of events raises concerns about the reasons behind it. There was no violation of any law on my part, yet I was treated unfairly,” he added.
The MP has called for improved diplomatic relations between Kenya and Tanzania to avoid similar incidents in the future.
“This should serve as a wake-up call for authorities on both sides to uphold the principles of free movement within the East African Community (EAC). Kenyans and Tanzanians have a long history of cooperation, and such incidents only serve to create unnecessary tension,” Owino urged.
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