At the annual Kenya National Prayer Breakfast held on Wednesday, President William Ruto extended a public apology to Tanzania and Uganda, addressing recent diplomatic tensions.
President Ruto’s apology was framed within a biblical context quoting Psalms 133 and Daniel 11:32. “Where there is unity, God commands a blessing,” Ruto remarked.
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During his speech, President Ruto stated, “To our neighbors from Tanzania, if we have wronged you in any way, forgive us. If there is anything that Kenyans have done that is not right, we want to apologize.”
This apology comes in the wake of heightened regional friction, including the deportation of activists from Kenya and Uganda who were attending the trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, and allegations of cyberbullying against Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan by Kenyan social media users.
The diplomatic row escalated when Tanzanian MPs accused Kenyans of disrespecting their sovereignty and meddling in domestic affairs, prompting formal protests from Kenya and Uganda over the detention of activists without consular access.
Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire alleged she was raped while in Tanzanian detention, further straining relations.