Kenya has formally protested to Tanzania over what Nairobi terms “a policy shift that condones hostile actions against Kenyan citizens and their business interests”, Local online website, the Daily Nation reports.
According to the report, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Political and Diplomatic Secretary, Tom Amollo on Monday criticised Tanzania’s decision to burn over 6,000 chicks imported from Kenya as well auction animals from the country’s headers without involving the authorities in Nairobi.
Amollo said that such actions risked soiling historical relations between the two countries.
Tanzanian High Commissioner, Pindi Chana has been summoned by Kenyan foreign officials for “Tanzania’s unilateral actions on issues affecting the two countries”.
Speaking to the Tanzania envoy during a meeting in Nairobi, Amollo said that the two nations’ relations are longstanding, rich and complex and should not be jeopardised by a hardening of positions over minor issues that can easily be resolved through dialogue.
“There may be need to urgently convene the Kenya-Tanzania Joint Border Commissioners/Administrators Committee Meeting to address emerging cross border issues,” he further added.
The East African nations are in a disagreement after Tanzania burned 6, 400 chicks allegedly to prevent the spread if bird flu.
Kenya has since denied any reports of bird flu in the country.
Tanzania also said that the importation of the chicks was not supported by paperwork.
In October, Tanzania auctioned 1,325 herd of cattle belonging to Kenyan herders after they were confiscated for grazing in Tanzania.
Nairobi protested that the move was a “blatant disregard of the plight or interests of the affected Kenyan citizens” despite appeals from Kenya officials to delay it, the report said.
According to Amollo, cross-border grazing happens not only with Tanzania but also along the borders with Uganda, South Sudan and Ethiopia. None of these other countries has resorted to drastic action against the property of the citizens of the neighbouring country.
