Ole Lenku Hires Chopper, Rescues 26 Kenyans Jailed in Tanzania

Former Kajiado Governor Joseph ole Lenku addressing a church congregation.
Former Kajiado Governor Joseph ole Lenku addressing a church congregation.
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Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku hired a chopper and flew to the border town of Ilasit, Kajiado where he secured the release of 26 women who were jailed in Tanzania

The Kenyan nationals were accused of illegally entering the neighbouring country without passports or other relevant documents. They were sentenced to 1 year jail term or a fine of Ksh23,600 (TSh 500,000) each. 

Ole Lenku paid a total of Ksh1 million and secured their release, four days after they were sentenced. 

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Kenyan women who were jailed in Tanzania in March 2021
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The 26 were ferried back to Kenya aboard a school bus the Jubilee Governor had hired too. 

Ole Lenku criticised the Tanzanian authorities for frustrating Kenyan traders and lamented that the relationship between the two countries was getting frosty.

"We cannot comprehend why our neighbours keep on harassing our traders, yet we also welcome their traders without issues whatsoever." Ole Lenku stated, adding that the two governments need to discuss how to strengthen their ties. 

The women said that the Tanzanian authorities denied them some of their rights, with lactating mothers adding that they were denied the opportunity to breastfeed their children who were brought to them while they were in jail. 

Kenya and Tanzania enjoy a lukewarm relationship that keeps wavering time and time again. Last year, in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, Tanzania blocked Kenyan planes from landing at their airports. 

The row escalated when Kenya excluded Tanzanian nationals among travellers exempted from mandatory Covid-19 quarantine

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary (PS) Ambassador Macharia Kamau, downplayed the situation and insisted that Kenya did not have any diplomatic issues with Tanzania.

In the recent past, Tanzania burnt alive 5,000 day-old chicks imported from Kenya by three local businessmen, a move that severed trade relations between the two countries.

It also impounded over 1,400 heads of cattle owned by Kenyan Maasai herders. 

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Herders grazing livestock in a semi-arid region in Kenya
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