Ole Lenku Rescues 26 Kenyans Jailed In Tanzania Via Chopper
Ole Lenku blasted the Tanzanian authorities for creating an unhealthy environment for Kenyan traders and lamented that the relationship between the two countries was growing worse by the day.
Marvin Chege 
Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku hired a chopper to rescue the 26 Kenyans- all women- who were released after being jailed in Tanzania.
The Kenyan nationals were accused of illegally entering the neighboring country without passports or other relevant documents. They were sentenced to a 1-year jail term or a fine of Ksh23,600 (TSh 500,000) each.
Ole Lenku flew to the border town of Ilasit, Kajiado to secure their release by paying a total of Ksh1million, four days after they were sentenced.
The 26 were transported back to Kenya aboard a school bus the Jubilee Governor had hired as well.
Ole Lenku blasted the Tanzanian authorities for creating an unhealthy environment for Kenyan traders and lamented that the relationship between the two countries was growing worse by the day.
"We cannot comprehend why our neighbors keep on harassing our traders, yet we also welcome their traders without issues whatsoever." Ole Lenku stated, adding that the two governments need to discuss how to strengthen their ties.
The women stated that the Tanzanian authorities had denied them some of their rights, with lactating mothers adding that they were denied the opportunity to breastfeed their children who were brought to them while they were in jail.
Kenya and Tanzania have been recently at loggerheads with each other, a factor that is threatening to destroy the relationship between the two countries.
Kenya was forced to lift the ban on the importation of maize from Tanzania after the latter protested its decision to stop the exportation of its products into the country amidst concerns that it was unfit for human consumption.
Tanzania had in 2020 blocked Kenyan planes from landing at their airports in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The row escalated when Kenya excluded Tanzanian nationals among travelers exempted from mandatory Covid-19 quarantine
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary (PS) Ambassador Macharia Kamau, downplayed the situation and insisted that Kenya did not have any diplomatic issues with Tanzania.
The row almost disintegrated with numerous reports that President John Magufuli was admitted to Nairobi Hospital with alleged COVID-19 complications.
