Top police officials from Kenya and Tanzania have resolved to hold a security meeting to address issues raised by Kenyan residents at the Isebania border, accusing the Tanzanian police of mistreating them.
Reportedly, the Kenyans are claiming that the Tanzanian police in Sirare are hindering their businesses and transportation services through intimidation tactics.
Speaking on Monday, the Isebania Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Bornes Chepkemei relayed to her Tanzanian counterpart that the residents of the Kenyan side of the border were accusing the Tanzanian police of even confiscating their boda bodas.
As such, she called for a joint security meeting where the officers from Sirare, Tanzania, would resolve the matter with the Isebania residents and even return some of the confiscated material.
"We want reconciliation talks whereby Kenyans will air their complaints because they have been saying that you (Tanzanian police) have been harassing them during the patrols by beating them, confiscating their boda bodas and lobbing tear gas at them," she said.
"We have, today, started a security meeting in Kenya, and we have decided to meet with you (Tanzanian police) so that you can release the motorbikes that you have seized."
From the Tanzanian side, the Tarime-Rorya Police Commander Mark Njera relayed that they were ready to hear the issues and figure out a way to resolve them in a planned meeting on Tuesday, October 28.
However, he warned the Kenyans against holding demonstrations that disrupt activities in the two border towns, as that was not Tanzania's way of life.
"Meanwhile, we only want peace. We do not want to see you start throwing stones and closing the roads. That is not the norm for us," Njera stated.
"We will then leave here and let your leaders deal with the issues that you have raised with them."
This comes just days after drama ensued at the border town when a rowdy group from both nations stormed the immigration offices, demanding the release of Tanzanian opposition leader John Heche.
The opposition party, CHADEMA's deputy party leader, had been trying to get into Kenya to attend the burial of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on October 19, when he was denied entry and temporarily detained.
He was arrested just days later, on October 23, and has yet to be released, just days before the Tanzanian elections on October 29. His party leader and the main opponent of President Samia Suluhu, Tundu Lissu, has been in police custody since April.
As such, Kenyans online have been mobilising for a mega protest in Tanzania on the election date and are set to storm the neighbouring nation for an intervention.
