Kenyans Flock to Tanzania for Parties, Business Despite Flights Row [VIDEO]

An elevated view of motorists along Mombasa Road on Thursday, October 14, 2019.
An elevated view of motorists along Mombasa Road on Thursday, October 14, 2019.
Simon Kiragu
Kenyans.co.ke

Mounting diplomatic tensions, directives and counter-directives have characterised the relationship between Kenya and Tanzania in recent months.

Travellers from Tanzania to Kenya are required to go into quarantine for 14 days, with the country listed by the government among high-risk nations in line with the World Health Organization (WHO).

Tanzania on the other hand has suspended several Kenyan airlines from operating flights to the country.

Several Kenyans including high-profile personalities, however, continue to flock the neighbouring country where Covid-19 restrictions are minimal.

File image of the Namanga border post
File image of the Namanga border post
Photo
Ministry of Immigration

Images of massive, stadium-filling events including Simba and Yanga Days, from the country's two football clubs, have caught the attention of many Kenyans in recent days.

The entertainment industry in Tanzania continues to thrive and among those at the shows are Kenyan performers and fans.

Comedian Eric Omondi, rappers King Kaka and Femi One are among Kenyan celebrities who have performed in Tanzania in the past two weeks.

In one widely circulated video, King Kaka joked that he would not be returning to Kenya as he partied the night away in a club, no masks or social distancing in sight.

Clubs and bars in Kenya have been closed for several months, with bar owners' pleas to be allowed to resume operations so far falling on deaf ears.

Many of those from Kenya travelling to Tanzania are involved in various cross-border businesses.

The Namanga border-point remains busy, with reported complaints from truck drivers that the clearance process be streamlined.

Tanzania has, however, welcomed tourists including those from Kenya, with only a Covid-19 free certificate required from travellers.

Adrian, a Kenyan-Tanzanian student who travelled to Arusha from Nairobi in March told Kenyans.co.ke that Kenyans continued to patronize entertainment joints in Tanzania.

"I work at one of the clubs, I also frequent others and there are a lot of Kenyans coming in.

"Occasionally you hear the jokes about the differences in the countries' approach to fighting the pandemic," he stated.

At the same time, tour operators in Kenya have urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to relax the classification of Tanzania, stating it was hurting tourism.

"Tanzania is our biggest trading partner and we share one of the longest borders and we speak the same national language. I appeal to President Uhuru Kenyatta to step in and help resolve this. With one call I believe he can do it,” Mohammed Hersi who chairs the Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) stated on Wednesday, September 2.

Tourism PS Macharia Kamau was yet to respond to our queries by the time of publication.

Watch a video of King Kaka in Tanzania below:

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