By James Murimi - Reporter
Kenya, 19 November 2025 - The family of John Ogutu, a Kenyan teacher killed under unclear circumstances at the peak of protests after the 29 October general election in Tanzania, will wait longer for closure after the government announced that his body has yet to be found.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi was on Wednesday invited to respond to questions in the National Assembly regarding the killing and the wider safety concerns for Kenyans in Tanzania during the tense post-election period.
The matter was raised by Laikipia North MP Sarah Korere against the backdrop of the recently concluded presidential elections in Tanzania.
Dr Mudavadi told MPs that Ogutu, a teacher at Sky Schools in Kinondoni District, was shot dead on 29 October 2025 at around 7pm in Goba Centre, Ubungo District, Dar es Salaam.
Following the incident, the Kenya High Commission, working alongside Sky Schools, visited several government hospital mortuaries in Dar es Salaam in an attempt to trace his remains, but the efforts were unsuccessful.
The High Commission formally notified Tanzanian authorities through diplomatic channels, requesting urgent assistance in locating the body.
Dr Mudavadi said his office had also written to Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Community Affairs seeking intervention.
“The High Commission remains in constant engagement with Tanzanian authorities; however, the body of the late Ogutu has not yet been traced,” he said, adding that the government continues to provide consular support to the family.
Once the remains are located, Kenya will immediately facilitate repatriation for burial in line with the family’s wishes and both countries’ laws.
Dr Mudavadi further told Parliament that no Kenyan citizens had been reported missing following the unrest linked to Tanzania’s general elections.
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However, several Kenyans were arrested and detained across various locations. In response, the High Commission deployed officers to verify the arrests, offer consular assistance and engage local authorities.
Following diplomatic intervention, all but two of the detained Kenyans – Samuel Kagila and Stephen Ndungu Kimani – have been released. The pair remain held at Arusha Central Police Station as efforts continue to secure their freedom.
Preliminary assessments by the Kenya High Commission indicate that no major Kenyan-owned businesses suffered damage, looting or forced closure during the election-related violence.
The only reported incident involved a tear gas canister launched by Tanzanian security forces that landed on the Kenyan side at the Namanga One Stop Border Post, striking the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Cargo Scanner Area. No injuries or significant damage were recorded.
Data tabled in Parliament showed that between 2021 and October 2025, a total of 766 Kenyan citizens physically registered at the Kenya High Commission in Dar es Salaam and the Kenya Consulate in Arusha.
An additional 276,186 entries were recorded on the Mission’s online registration portal before it ceased operations in July 2023 due to inadequate funding.
Statistics from Tanzania covering July 2023 to June 2024 show that Kenyan nationals were issued 879 work permits, 1,806 residence permits, 448 student passes and registered 370 businesses, reflecting deepening labour mobility and economic integration within the East African Community (EAC).
Dr Mudavadi noted discrepancies between Kenya and Tanzania’s data, emphasizing the need to reinstate the online registration portal to improve real-time monitoring of Kenyans living and working in the neighbouring country.
He appealed to the National Assembly for increased budgetary allocation to strengthen the Mission’s data systems and enhance protection of Kenyan citizens abroad.
