Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has officially written to Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, seeking clarification on why he has been barred from entering Tanzania.
In a formal letter dated February 3, 2025, and addressed through Tanzania’s Ambassador in Kenya, Babu detailed his experience of being denied entry and temporarily detained upon his arrival at Julius Nyerere International Airport in December 2024.
The Kenyan legislator expressed his dismay at being declared persona non grata without prior notice or explanation from Tanzanian authorities.
“I write to bring to your attention that when I recently visited Tanzania in December 2024 upon arrival at the airport in Dar es Salaam, your immigration officers rejected my passport and casually informed me that I am on the list of persona non grata in Tanzania,” Babu Owino’s letter reads.
Babu Owino urged President Suluhu to provide a formal written explanation detailing why he had been denied entry into Tanzania.
He emphasized that he had travelled for legitimate business and diplomatic reasons and had not violated any known laws or policies.
“ALL those rights and fundamental freedoms apply to me as a citizen of this planet. THEREFORE, I am placing this special request to your office to appraise me in writing on the reasons why I am not allowed to enter into Tanzania for business, or as a representative of the people of Kenya, or as a friend of the people of Tanzania and for any other legitimate reasons,” he stated.
Babu concluded his letter by offering to provide a Kiswahili translation of his request upon official request from Tanzanian authorities.
“I look forward to your response on this. A Kiswahili translation of this letter can be availed upon your request,” he concluded.
The move by Babu Owino raises questions about diplomatic relations between Kenya and Tanzania, especially in the context of EAC integration.
While Tanzania has yet to issue an official response, the situation has already sparked debate over the limits of regional agreements on free movement.
Babu Owino also recalled that he remains banned from Uganda and is prohibited from stepping foot in the country.
