Kenya presses Tanzania over slain teacher; body still missing
Kenya has escalated diplomatic pressure on Tanzania to account for the killing of Kenyan teacher John Ogutu in Dar es Salaam and to help locate his body. Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi told MPs the government has sought urgent action through formal channels and is providing consular support to the family. The case is the only reported Kenyan fatality linked to unrest that followed Tanzania’s October 29 presidential polls.
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- Ogutu, a teacher at Sky Schools in Kinondoni, was shot on Oct. 29 around 7 p.m. at Goba Centre, Ubungo District.
- Kenya’s High Commission and Sky Schools searched several hospital mortuaries in Dar es Salaam without success.
- Nairobi has formally asked Tanzania’s Foreign Ministry to assist in tracing the body and to fast-track investigations.
Search efforts and consular engagement
Mudavadi said the whereabouts of Ogutu’s body remain unknown despite multi-agency efforts in Dar es Salaam. He assured Parliament Kenya will facilitate repatriation once the body is found and that diplomatic outreach to Tanzanian authorities is ongoing. The government has also been managing related incidents from the election period, including detentions and a minor border incident.
- No Kenyan-owned business has reported major losses; a tear gas canister from Tanzania struck a KRA cargo scanner at Namanga, with no significant impact.
- Two Kenyans — Samuel Kagila and Stephen Ndungu Kimani — remain in custody at Arusha Central Police Station; others arrested have been released.
- Kenya’s High Commission is engaging Tanzanian authorities to secure the duo’s release; no Kenyan has been declared missing due to the unrest.
Data gap: tracking Kenyans in Tanzania and beyond
Mudavadi highlighted broader concerns about monitoring Kenyans abroad after an online registration portal was shut down for lack of funding. He said the data gap complicates emergency response, crisis management, and long-term policymaking. While Tanzanian authorities documented thousands of Kenyans in the past year, only a small fraction are registered at Kenyan missions.
- Between July 2023 and June 2024, Tanzania formally documented 3,503 Kenyans: 448 student passes, 879 work permits, 370 business registrations, and 1,806 residence permits.
- Kenya’s online portal captured 276,186 entries from 2021 to June 2023 before being disabled due to funding constraints.
- Only 766 Kenyans physically registered at the missions in Dar es Salaam and Arusha between 2021 and October 2025.
Next steps and accountability
Kenya says all diplomatic channels have been activated to ensure accountability and safety for its citizens in Tanzania. The Foreign Ministry has asked Parliament to fund restoration of the online registration system to enable real-time monitoring. Lawmakers will receive detailed documentation once verification of incidents linked to the post-election unrest is complete.
- Authorities are seeking urgent assistance from Tanzania to locate Ogutu’s body and expedite investigations.
- The government will facilitate repatriation for the family once the remains are found.
- Parliamentary oversight will be strengthened with verified reports on all related cases and incidents.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
