Tanzanian Parliament has expressed concern over sentiments by Starehe Member of Parliament Charles Njagua Kanyi that have been widely interpreted as xenophobic.
In a viral video on social media, the MP is seen lashing out at foreigners whom he says are taking business from the locals and promised to have them dealt with.
According to a story by BBC Swahili, the Kenyan Ambassador to Tanzania was called to shed light on the what the Member of Parliament meant.
Tanzania's Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa confirmed that the ambassador had been called over the MP's utterances.
Mohammed Mcherengwa, Member of Parliament for Rufiji, called on the speaker of Tanzania's Parliament to give directions on the importance of the Kenyan government issuing a statement on the security of Tanzanians living in Kenya.
"We called the Kenyan Ambassador to Tanzania. We also spoke with our ambassador in Kenya. The diplomat from Kenya said that the remarks were of an individual and did not in any way reflect the position of the government of Kenya. He promised to grill the MP to ascertain what he meant. (Tulimuita mjumbe wa Kenya nchini Tanzania. Pia tulizungumza na mjumbe wa Tanzania nchini Kenya. Mwanadiplomasia huyo wa Kenya alisema kuwa lilikuwa tamshi la kibinafsi ambalo halikuhusishwa na msimamo wa serikali ya Kenya. Aliahidi kwamba serikali itamuhoji mbunge huyo kuelezea kile alichomaanisha katika matamshi yake)," Majaliwa told BBC Swahili in an interview.
The Kenyan government issued a statement through its spokesman, condemning the sentiments of the Starehe MP.