Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi has urged local activists to help Kenyans with court cases and those in prisons instead of meddling in legal cases in other countries.
Sudi's statement comes days after the Tanzanian government blocked and deported six Kenyan activists and other prominent Kenyans who were set to attend the Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu's court trial on Monday, May 19.
In a statement on his official X account on Wednesday, May 21, the MP commended the Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu for the move to deport the Kenyans.
If he were the Tanzanian president, Sudi said, he would have subjected the activists to more severe punishment, such as "caning them for two days".
According to the lawmaker, the activists should take advantage of the freedom and democracy in the country and help imprisoned Kenyans and those stuck in other legal cages for free.
"Tanzania had mercy on you because they are our friends. If they did not know us, you would have faced more consequences. You are pretending that you are going to help in cases in Tanzania, yet some Kenyans are in prisons and courts whom you should help for free," he said.
He added: "Let us not take this 'know-it-all' behaviour to other countries. I want to tell President Suluhu that she did a good thing, and if they come next time, make sure that they eat beans. If I were the president there, I would cane them for two days so that when they come back home, they have respect."
According to Sudi, Kenyans should not only refrain from interfering in East African countries' legal affairs, as well as other regions such as West Africa, where such acts attract more severe repercussions.
The announcement comes hours after human rights groups raised concern over the whereabouts of Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan lawyer and journalist Agatha Atuhaire, who are reportedly missing despite reports that Tanzanian Authorities had initiated their deportation on Tuesday, May 20.
Mwangi, who arrived in Tanzania on Sunday to also attend Lissu's trial, was apprehended on Monday, May 19, in his hotel after Tanzanian authorities claimed that he had obtained entry into the country irregularly.
According to VOCAL Africa CEO Hussein Khalid, who spoke to Kenyans.co.ke on Wednesday, May 21, efforts to trace Mwangi and Atuhaire in Dar es Salaam have failed.
Khalid said that the Tanzanian government should immediately release and deport the duo back to their respective countries without any delay.
"We have searched with fellow human rights defenders and lawyers in Tanzania, but to no avail. Let it be known that Kenyans will hold (President) Suluhu Hassan personally responsible should anything happen to the two. We further demand the immediate return of the two to their countries without further delays," Khalid said.
