By Tajeu Shadrack Nkapapa
On Tuesday, June 18, Tanzanian Foreign Minister Hon. January Makamba found himself amidst the chaos in Nairobi City caused by protests against the Finance Bill 2024.
Makamba and his delegation had journeyed to Nairobi to inaugurate the construction of a twin-tower building that will serve as the Tanzanian embassy in Kenya.
Prior to the trip, he acknowledged being aware of the upcoming demonstrations in Nairobi, yet proceeded with the journey.
“It is quite an eventful day in Nairobi, from the commotion we see in town,” he said about the Financial Bill 2024 protests.
He commended Kenya for its bold step in fighting for its rights and said that Kenya is a safe place not only to be but also to invest.
“We are here to make a very bold statement as a Country that we want to be in Nairobi, we want to be in Kenya and we want to be here for good,” Hon. Makamba said.
“And we see this country as a safe place to be, a safe place to invest,” he added.
The minister hinted that his delegation from Tanzania attempted to cancel his visit to Kenya due to the Finance Bill 2024 protests but he declined.
According to Hon. Makamba, his respect for people’s right to protest influenced his decision not to allow his trip cancelled.
“We believe that whatever we need to communicate to our people, our differences in opinions, in how we do things, and the expression of those differences can coexist in progress,” he stated.
“We are glad we are having conversations about issues, and our institutions are working. We are communicating to the world, that Tanzania and Kenya are not just neighbours, we are more than neighbours, and we are brothers and sisters. Kenya na Tanzania ni Ndugu,” Makamba said.
“Our prosperity is linked,” he added.
President Ruto has previously emphasized the importance of Kenyans raising inquiries about the policies formulated and executed by their leaders, as it contributes to the strengthening of democracy.