[President Uhuru Kenyatta and John Magufuli in a past event. The two have been asked to solve deteriorating diplomacy. Photo/Nation]
Amid looming diplomatic fallout between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, a section of leaders from Maasai community wants President Uhuru Kenyatta and his counterpart John Magufuli to hold a crisis meeting.
Last week, a fire breathing Magufuli backed Tanzanian authority’s decision to impound over 1300 cattle belonging to Kenyan herders and subsequently ordered for their auctioning.
“Tanzania is not a grazing fair for cattle for other countries. They are also free to apply their law if Tanzanians mess,” he said in reference to Kenya.
With Kenya, through government spokesman Erick Kiraithe choosing diplomacy, it’s however not clear how long the tension between the two countries will last.
Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina and Narok North MP Moitalel Ole Kenta now want Nairobi to engage Tanzania, adding that input of Uhuru Kenyatta will be essential.
“We have Maasai living in both countries and have done so peacefully for many years. We want the government through the president to intervene,” said Ole Kina.
On his part, Kenta added: “The two presidents should open up and solve the impending fallout. This is a tragedy that we shall no longer keep quiet about.”
Despite their calls for dialogue, Kenyan government has vowed to compensate victims of the latest onslaught from Tanzania.
Recently, Tanzanian authorities also impounded chicken from Kenya at Namanga border and burnt them on grounds that they were not properly inspected before taken across the border.