Activist Bob Njagi has urged citizens to hold a nationwide shutdown on December 9 in solidarity with Tanzanians who plan to protest during their Independence Day celebrations.
Speaking shortly after his release from detention in Uganda, Njagi said the move is aimed at standing with Tanzanian citizens who have vowed to take to the streets on the national holiday.
He announced that Kenyan activists are considering closing border points and calling for the suspension of operations at the Tanzanian Embassy in Nairobi.
“We are hoping that on December 9th, which Tanzania have declared as Independence Day, we in Kenya will also declare a total shutdown. We are going to stand in solidarity with our brothers in Tanzania and shut our borders in Kenya. We are calling for the Tanzanian Embassy to be closed down immediately,” Njagi said.
Njagi also urged Members of Parliament to support a motion that would compel the government to temporarily halt diplomatic ties with Tanzania in response to what he described as coordinated state actions against regional activists.
The activist, who was recently detained in Uganda, alleged that his arrest was planned jointly by authorities from Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
“Our arrest was a coordinated one between the Kenyan and Tanzanian governments. They knew we were crossing into Tanzania and raised the alarm,” he claimed.
Njagi accused the governments of Presidents William Ruto, Samia Suluhu Hassan, and Yoweri Museveni of working together to suppress dissent across East Africa.
He called on citizens from all three nations to unite in resisting what he termed the excesses of these governments.
Tanzania marks its Independence Day on December 9 each year.
This year’s commemorations come amid growing regional tensions over human rights, governance issues after a controversial election.
By CReatorhub