Tanzania President John Pombe Magufuli orders arrest of Kenyan Government officials
Tanzania President John Pombe Magufuli orders arrest of Kenyan Government officials who were touring the Tanga Port on Wednesday without authorisation from the Tanzanian Government.
The officials led by Energy Cabinet Secretary, Charles Keter, were touring Tanga Port after touring the Lamu Port.
The trip was part of their mission to unlock a deadlock between Kenya and Uganda over whether a proposed oil pipeline to export Uganda’s oil would pass through Kenya or Tanzania.
However, Kenya’s delegation led by Keter was arrested and their passports confiscated as they attempted to enter the Tanga Port in the company of the Ugandan delegation.
Ugandan delegation led by Energy Minister, Irene Muloni, was allowed to proceed with the tour unmolested.
Sources said that the Kenyan delegation was harassed for failing to invite President Magufuli to State House, Nairobi, last week, where Uganda’s President, Yoweri Museveni and President Uhuru Kenyatta held talks over the multi-billion pipeline deal.