National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has called on former Chief Justices Willy Mutunga, David Maraga, and other Kenyan lawyers and activists to exercise caution in their actions concerning Kenya’s regional neighbours.

According to the Speaker, their recent actions risk inflaming tensions between Kenya and its neighbours, Tanzania and Uganda.

“I want to encourage our friends, our retired Chief Justices and other distinguished Kenyans, please don’t be the ones to foment frosty relations between Kenya and its neighbours. We co-exist, trade, and we have more Kenyans living in those countries than there are their citizens living in Kenya,” he said.

Wetangula who was speaking in Bungoma County amid public raging debate over the recent deportation of Kenyan lawyers and activists by Tanzanian authorities, emphasized the need for Kenyans to preserve long-standing partnerships with Tanzania and Uganda, and to avoid actions that could jeopardize relations.

“I want to urge my fellow Kenyans, who have started a bad habit of roaming all over East Africa to go and foment trouble, cause disaffection and appear to know what others, they think, don’t know, that hatutaki kugombana na majirani,” he stated

“The East African Community (EAC) is not merely a community of flags or presidents; it is a community of the people of East Africa,” Wetangula added.

The two former Chief Justices, Karua and activists Boniface Mwangi and Hanifa Adan, among others, had travelled to Tanzania to support opposition figure Tundu Lissu during a court appearance. Mutunga, Karua, and Hanifa were denied entry to Tanzania, while Mwangi was controversially detained and later released under unclear circumstances.

In response to the public outcry, the Speaker, a former Foreign Affairs Minister, insisted that Tanzania has never provoked Kenya.

“You are a lawyer in Kenya, but when we look at your records you have never had any distinction as a lawyer in this country. Halafu unakimbia unaenda Tanzania, you want to go and show Tanzania that you are a lawyer and here in Kenya nobody even appreciates what you do as a lawyer,” he remarked.

“Kenya wants to be peaceful and have a good neighborliness with our neighbors and our partners in East African Community. Watanzania hawajawahi kuchokoza Kenya na hatuwawahi kuwa na shida na Uganda,” maintained Wetangula.