Kenya's President Ruto apologises to Uganda and Tanzania over tensions
Kenya's President William Ruto has apologised to Uganda and Tanzania in an attempt to calm rising diplomatic tensions between the three East African neighbours.
Speaking at Kenya’s annual National Prayer Breakfast in Nairobi, President Ruto said he wanted to rebuild trust and promote unity in the region.
His comments followed a series of incidents that strained relations, including the recent deportation of Kenyan and Ugandan activists from Tanzania.
The activists had travelled to attend the treason trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
Among those detained and sent back were former Kenyan Justice Minister Martha Karua, ex-Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, and prominent activist Boniface Mwangi.
Ugandan journalist Agather Atuhaire was also deported.
The move drew strong criticism from Kenyan civil society and sparked heated exchanges in both countries' parliaments.
In his speech, President Ruto said: “Our neighbours from Tanzania, if we have wronged you in any way, forgive us. Our friends from Uganda, if there’s anything that Kenyans have done that’s not right, we want to apologise.”
He added that Kenya was committed to building strong ties with its neighbours to help the region grow.
Tanzanian lawmakers had earlier accused the visiting activists of interfering in internal matters and called for tougher action.
The fallout also played out online, with Tanzanian MP Jesca Msambatavangu saying she received hundreds of messages from Kenyan youth after criticising the visitors.
Despite the tensions, lawmakers from both Kenya and Tanzania appeared together during the prayer event, singing and showing unity in a symbolic gesture of reconciliation.
