Tanzania’s Election Unrest Spills Across Border into Kenya
Published: October 30, 2025 | By Biiso FM News Desk
Tanzania’s post-election violence has spilled over into neighboring Kenya, disrupting cross-border business and travel at the busy Namanga border point.
The unrest follows Wednesday’s disputed presidential election in Tanzania, which has triggered two straight days of protests and a government-imposed internet shutdown.
Tear gas crosses the border
Namanga town, which straddles the Kenya-Tanzania border, descended into chaos on Thursday as Tanzanian protesters fled into the Kenyan side to escape police crackdowns.
Witnesses say Tanzanian security forces fired tear gas canisters across the border, forcing Kenyan traders to shut down their shops.
Truck drivers transporting goods between the two countries remain stranded at the frontier as both sides tighten security.
Taliban Onyango, a trader on the Kenyan side, told Biiso FM:
“The challenge we have today is that we are not able to operate businesses because of the elections in Tanzania. The Tanzanian police are lobbing tear gas at us. Now we have nothing to feed our kids. We are asking our government to maintain peace at the border so we can go on with our businesses and the same for the Tanzanians.”
Internet blackout widens
The Kenyan side of Namanga has also been affected by the internet blackout imposed by Tanzanian authorities since election day.
Human rights group Amnesty International has urged the Tanzanian government to restore internet access, warning that information restrictions could fuel more violence.
With internet services down, protesters are reportedly relying on walkie-talkie apps and offline messaging tools to coordinate demonstrations and share updates.
Meanwhile, Kenyan journalists attempting to cross into Tanzania say they’ve been barred from entry, citing security restrictions along the border.
