Widespread demonstrations have rocked Tanzania for a second consecutive day, with thousands of citizens taking to the streets to condemn what they labelled a flawed and chaotic election. The unrest has spilled over into neighbouring Kenya, where trade and transport have been severely affected following road closures and a government-imposed curfew.
Two people, among them a Kenyan businessman, were reportedly shot dead by Tanzanian police during a confrontation at the Namanga border.
The chaos comes amid growing frustration among Tanzanians who accuse the government of manipulating the 2025 General Election to secure victory for President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party.
Kenyan businesses bear the brunt of Tanzania’s turmoil
The ongoing protests and curfews have paralysed operations at major border crossings, including the Taveta/Holili One Stop Border Post, where a nationwide internet blackout disrupted customs systems on Thursday, 30 October.
According to the Daily Nation, the outage created a massive cargo backlog, leaving truck drivers and traders stranded for hours. “Goods and vehicle clearance came to a standstill. There’s no heightened security, just frustration everywhere,” lamented Paul Wambua, a customs agent.
Tensions rise among boda boda riders
Cross-border motorcycle taxi operators staged protests after Tanzanian authorities temporarily banned them from carrying passengers and goods into Tanzania. In response, Kenyan riders at Taveta threatened to block their Tanzanian counterparts from entering Kenya.
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“We warned that we’d retaliate if the restrictions continued,” said the Taveta Boda Boda Riders Association chairperson. Although limited operations have since resumed, small-scale traders remain heavily affected.
Rising death toll and escalating violence
Despite appeals for calm, violence persisted in Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, and Arusha. A diplomatic source estimated at least ten fatalities, though independent verification remains elusive.
Tensions peaked at the Namanga crossing, where Tanzanian police reportedly fired live ammunition and tear gas after youths from both countries hurled stones. The Standard reported that Tanzanian national Kabuli Balayi and Kenyan businessman John Kahindi were fatally shot, while two others — including a Kenyan police officer, sustained serious injuries.
Election controversy deepens
The state-run Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation’s early results showed Suluhu leading comfortably across several constituencies. However, opposition party Chadema dismissed the outcome, claiming widespread irregularities. Its leader, Tundu Lissu, was charged with treason after rejecting the electoral code of conduct and calling for nationwide protests.
The unrest has left Tanzania in partial blackout, digitally, politically, and economically, as East Africa watches with growing unease.
