By Nyang’au Araka
The unfolding diplomatic tiff between Kenya and Tanzania is not good news to both nations and by extension the East African Community (EAC).
The fallout was first triggered by the arrest and deportation of prominent Kenyans including former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, and politician Martha Karua who is also a vocal lawyer, on Sunday.
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By the time of writing this article, Kenyan photojournalist turned activist, Boniface Mwangi was reportedly in Tanzanian police custody.
As one would expect, these happenings have received widespread attention in legacy and new media in Kenya, Tanzania and beyond.
“A keen eye notices that different media outlets have reported the incident from varying angles, reflecting diverse interpretations of the events.“
-Nyang’au Araka
Some media sources have underscored Tanzania’s sovereign right to manage political activities within its borders.
On the other, there is mounting concern, particularly in Kenyan media outlets, that Tanzania’s actions dent democratic principles and are a hindrance to regional cohesion within the region.
As the scenario unfolds, the broader EAC, whose other member states are the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Somalia, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda have maintained pin-drop silence.
It should be appreciated that the architects of the regional outfit envisioned a community that can work together seamlessly and in a complimentary manner just the way one’s body organs do by complementing one another for the good of each and all.
Torn between sovereignty and integration
A fundamental feature of the media account has been how each outlet chooses to frame the incident, depending on which side of the Tanzania-Kenyan common border it belongs.
Indeed, it appears that some media outlets have chosen to perpetuate a narrative that qualifies Tanzania’s decisions as efforts to protect its internal political landscape from foreign interference.
In Tanzania, President Samia Suluhu’s warnings about exterior influence have been widely cited and, in some quarters, justified as a measure to safeguard national sovereignty.
This angle appears to align with Tanzania’s traditionally state-centric approach to governance and public discourse.
In contrast, a number of Kenyan media outlets have tended to depict the probable perils such actions pose to civilian freedoms and cross-border unity.
In so doing, the arrest, detention and/or deportation of have the affected Kenyans have been interpreted as attempts to suffocate political dissent.
This raises questions about Tanzania’s observance to autonomous norms and the shared values of the EAC, particularly as relates to the unrestricted movement of persons within the community.
Media that never rests
In this hullaballoo, there is one clear strength of the media’s handling of this issue; its role in keeping the public informed.
The tiff has been extensively covered, with detailed reporting on the detentions, official responses, and diplomatic developments.
This has allowed citizens in both countries — and the broader region — to stay updated.
The coverage has also ignited deeper public discussions on interrelated themes such as judicial autonomy, freedom of expression, and the commitments of EAC member states toward one another.
Unfortunately, the media’s handling of the developing situation has not been without imperfections.
A conspicuous bias runs through much of the coverage, shaped by national interests and political contexts.
Kenyan media has mostly focused on human rights and the clampdown of discord, while Tanzanian outlets have underscored state security and self-determination.
These contradictory narratives reflect the bigger disparity in media freedom and political candidness between the two countries.
Contrasts and need for convergence
It appears that Kenya has a more open and vocal press environment compared to Tanzania’s, which is slightly more tightly controlled.
Some reports have also tended to sound sensational, and zeroed in on dramatic details, such as late-night arrests and scathing political reactions.
Such stories may be persuasive but can sometimes sidetrack the region from the deeper, systemic issues at play.
Such an approach risks exacerbating strains and obfuscating the broader discussion on governance, policy orientation, and regional collaboration.
Media houses must aim for objectivity by presenting multiple viewpoints, including those from legal experts, political analysts, and regional affairs commentators.
This can go a long way in enriching public understanding in Kenya, Tanzania and the entire region.
In addition, as argued in my article published on this website on Monday, collaborative journalism across borders could also help thwart national biases and present a fuller picture of the dispute.
Therefore, inasmuch as media has played an important role in illuminating the Kenya-Tanzania standoff, and offered valuable intuitions and raised critical questions, its portrayal of the situation has sometimes reflected national loyalties and sensationalist tendencies.
The media must endeavor for grander balance, broaden its sources, and contextualize such conflicts within the larger aim of EAC integration.
Only then can journalism contribute meaningfully to the peace and progress that the region deserves to prosper.
-Mr Araka is a Kenyan journalist, biographer and creative writer.
