Magufuli to attend Uhuru’s big day with ‘chicken-cattle’ spat still fresh
It will be interesting to note the kind of reception Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli is accorded when he jets into Nairobi to witness President Uhuru Kenyatta’s swearing in ceremony on Tuesday.
His visit will come in the backdrop of a near diplomatic row between the two countries early this month when the Tanzanian administration auctioned more than 1,000 cattle belonging to Kenyan pastoralists which had strayed into the country.
The Tanzanian government also seized 6,500 chicks from a Kenyan trader and burnt them alive after they reportedly wandered into the country around the same time.
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President Magufuli’s attendance was confirmed on Friday via a communique released by his press team.
“Serikali inaturaifu kuwa Rais wa Jamuhuri wa Muungano wa Tanzania John Pombe Maghgufuli ataungana na viongozi wa mataifa mbalimbali kuhudhuria sherehe za kuapishwa mheshimiwa Uhuru Kenyatta kuwa Rais wa Jamuhuri ya Kenya kwa kipindi cha awamu ya pili,” the statement dated November 24 read in part.
President Magufuli, who was sworn in amid boycott from the opposition in 2015, is believed to be particularly close to Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga, who is contesting President Kenyatta’s victory.