President Samia Suluhu of Tanzania has urged coordinated action between Kenya and Tanzania to counter what she described as disruptive activism, calling for a firm regional stance against individuals she accused of exploiting democracy to incite unrest in the region.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday during President William Ruto’s State visit, Suluhu said cross-border activism and youth-led protests had featured prominently in her discussions with the Kenyan head of state.
“When evils occur in Kenya, they are our evils; let us cooperate to remove them. When evils occur in Tanzania, it is the same,” Suluhu said.
“We were discussing how to deal with these ill-mannered children of ours who call themselves Gen Z… going everywhere claiming to fight for democracy, yet they cause chaos, burn things, and disturb their governments.”
The Tanzanian president called for a unified regional approach, saying authorities in both countries should not differentiate between nationalities when dealing with activists fomenting unrest.
“We have to stand firm on these people. If they come to me, I will deal with them; if they come to you, deal with them so they behave,” she said.
Suluhu further argued that democratic systems should reflect local traditions and contexts rather than external models.
“The word democracy should not spoil our countries, our traditions or our customs. Democracy has no single formula,” she said.
Her remarks come amid growing scrutiny over how East African governments are responding to youth-led protests and dissent.
Both Kenya and Tanzania have recently faced criticism from rights groups over crackdowns on activists and opposition figures.
Suluhu’s comments echo her previous warnings following Tanzania’s 2025 general election, where she pledged to safeguard national stability at all cost after violent post-election protests against her win.
