[Tanzanian President John Magufuli (left) with his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta. The two are going through turmoil in their relationship. Photo/Nation]
Relationship between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Tanzanian counterpart has hit a new low following the decision of Tanzanian authorities to allow establishment of parallel tallying centre in the territory by Kenya’s opposition coalition NASA.
Although intrigues surrounding the emerging rivalry have not been in the public domain, Kenyan authorities have launched a complain, reveals the Daily Nation.
NASA is said to have established a parallel tallying centre in Kigamboni, one of Dar es Salaam suburbs to monitor August elections.
Recently, the dwindling relationship played open when Magufuli’s main rival Edward Lowasa endorsed Uhuru’s reelection during the burial of Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery.
Known to be a close ally of opposition leader Raila Odinga, Magufuli’s administration has been having issues with Kenya especially at the controversial Namanga border point.
Both countries are said to have imposed embargos on each other with Tanzania barred from exporting wheat to Kenya and responding by subjecting Kenyan traders at the border point to scrutiny.
The row is said to have erupted when the neighboring country hijacked oil pipeline deal that Kenya was planning to entre with Uganda.
However, both Uhuru and Magufuli have remained mum over the emerging power struggles between the two nations.