UPDATE Tuesday, May 19: Two Elimu TV journalists who were arrested pleaded guilty to charges of illegal entry into Tanzania.
The two were fined TShs500,000 (approximately Ksh.23,000) each or serve a prison term of 3 years for illegal entry and entry without proper certification.
UPDATE Monday, May 18: Tanzanian police revealed the identities of the two journalists who were arrested in Kisongo, Namanga.
The two were are Clinton Isimbo and Shadrack Kaleria who both work for Elimu TV as a photographer and writer respectively.
The duo has been handed over to the Foreign Affairs Department in Arusha Province for further action after crossing into Tanzania allegedly using an illegal entry point.
Two journalists from Kenya were arrested in Tanzania while conducting Covid-19 interviews after crossing the border without proper clearance.
The incident was confirmed by, Frank Mwaisumbe, Tanzania's Longido District Commissioner on Saturday, May 17 while speaking to Gadi TV in Tanzania.
"Those reports are true, though I don't have sufficient details. The reason is that these people entered without clearance and without following the procedures.
"They were from Kenya and did not pass through the border. The second reason is that they were found doing an interview with people and when they were questioned they said they were journalists who were working for a TV station in Kenya," said the DC.
Mwaisumbe was expressed concern that the journalists entered Tanzania and conducted interviews on Covid-19 response allegedly without following the right procedure, considering the media house was not registered in our country.
Longido is a small town and ward in Arusha Region in Tanzania which is the administrative seat for Longido District.
The identity of the two journalists who were arrested and the media house they represent is yet to be established.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Media Council of Kenya Cheif Executive Officer, Mr. David Omwoyo noted that he scanty details on the story.
"I have heard that report but I can have a better report about it tomorrow," said Omwoyo.
President Uhuru Kenyatta addressing the nation from State House Nairobi on Saturday, May, 16, announced the closure of the border between Kenya and Tanzania and Somalia to mitigate the spread of the Covid-19 -pandemic.
"That there shall be a cessation of movement of persons and any passenger-ferrying automobiles and vehicles into and out of the territory of the Republic of Kenya through the Kenya-Tanzania international border except for cargo vehicles, with effect from midnight today, Saturday 16th, May 2020.
A number of cases imported from Tanzania in Kenya border towns were the reason for the closure of the border with Migori Governor Okoth Obado calling for locking of the borders on Sunday, May 3.
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