Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has called on presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Samia Suluhu of Tanzania to act against Kenyan activists whom he says are exporting “bad manners” by interfering in the domestic politics of neighbouring states.
Speaking on Monday, Cherargei said Kenyans enjoy close social and economic ties across the East African Community through education, business, marriage, and work but stressed there is no agreement to export political activism.
“The Kenyan activists who export ‘bad manners’ of interference with the local politics to our neighbouring countries must stop immediately,” he said.
Cherargei appealed directly to the two heads of states saying those who meddle in their internal political affairs must be punished and sent back home.
“I want to ask Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and his Tanzanian counterpart, Samia Suluhu: if you get any busybody activists who want to destabilise the sovereignty, peace, and tranquility of your country, finya hao warudishe nyumbani tuwamalizie,” he said.
The senator said that while citizens of EAC partner states freely interact and mix, that does not extend to an agreement on political federation or political interference.
His sentiments come amid growing debate in the region about the role of activists and cross-border political campaigns.
Cherargei urged neighbouring governments to protect their sovereignty and maintain peace by dealing decisively with external actors perceived as meddling.
This comes days after activists Nicholas Oyoo and Bob Njagi were freed on Thursday night after 38 days of enforced disappearance in Uganda.
The two had been missing for over a month before being released.
On October 1, the two Kenyan activists were reported missing in Uganda under unclear circumstances.
According to reports, the duo had travelled to Uganda on Monday, September 29, with two Ugandan colleagues.
They later parted ways in Kampala, with Njagi and Oyoo said to have joined opposition politician Bobi Wine’s campaign trail in Buyende and Kamuli districts.
Njagi was reportedly seen addressing supporters at a campaign rally alongside Bobi Wine.
The following day, witnesses said the two Kenyans stopped at a petrol station in Kamuli for car repairs.
Around 3 p.m., a grey van carrying four armed individuals allegedly arrived at the station, and the men one reportedly a woman seated in front were said to have forced Njagi and Oyoo into the vehicle.
A third person who was with them was briefly detained but later released and told to return to the vehicle. Witnesses later reported that the activists’ phones went silent after the incident.
Ugandan police spokesman Kituma Rusoke [then] said the two were not in their custody.
Human rights lobby VOCAL Africa condemned the alleged abduction, saying in a post on its X handle: “Reports confirm that activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo of the Free Kenya Movement were abducted in Kampala, Uganda, while attending opposition leader Bobi Wine’s campaign. They were reportedly taken from a fuel station.”
Speaking on Saturday, Museveni claimed that the two Kenyan nationals are working with the Ugandan Opposition to organise riots in the country.
Museveni claimed that Njagi and Oyoo were arrested after Ugandan security agencies gathered intelligence linking them to Robert Kyagulanyi’s also known as Bobi Wine’s—political group.
He claimed they were working for him as ‘riot experts’.
“Here we have got very good intelligence. For instance, we have got two Kenyans (Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo) whom we arrested. They have been with us, I have their names but I cannot remember them. They came and were working with Kyagulanyi’s group that they are experts in riots,” Museveni said.
The Ugandan leader said the two were detained after authorities received reports suggesting that they had been advising the Opposition on strategies for street demonstrations and unrest.
