Kenyan opposition figure Martha Karua has urged egional institutions to initiate an independent investigation into the force used during Tanzania’s recent election disturbances, a call that places East Africa’s political accountability standards back in focus.
Her intervention follows President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s remarks defending the government’s handling of the youth-led protests that turned chaotic after the polls.
President Samia, speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday in Dar es Salaam, maintained that authorities acted within their obligations when demonstrations escalated.
In comments shared widely on X, she argued that governments cannot remain passive when public order is at risk and questioned whether critics of the response understood the state’s duty to safeguard citizens and property.
She added that her administration would uphold this mandate.
Karua responded on X, stating that the acknowledgement of force should be matched with an impartial inquiry led by regional bodies. She appealed to the Southern African Development Community and the African Union to supervise the process, tagging several leaders and institutions in her message.
According to Karua, such oversight would mirror past continental interventions, referencing former Ghanaian president John Kufuor’s role in facilitating political dialogue in Kenya following the 2007–08 post-election violence.
The situation in Tanzania has drawn heightened attention across East Africa, where election disputes often carry wide political implications.
Youth demonstrations over the poll outcome sparked confrontations with security agencies, prompting renewed debate over how states should balance crowd control with respect for civil liberties.
While details about casualties or arrests remain limited, authorities in Dar es Salaam have insisted that actions taken during the unrest were lawful and necessary.
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