Kenya's Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'Oei has assured the family of John Okoth Ogutu, a teacher killed in Tanzania, that the government will work to bring his remains home. The commitment comes amid delays attributed to Tanzania's recent government transitions. Ogutu died during post-election violence in Dar es Salaam.
John Okoth Ogutu, a Kenyan school teacher working in Tanzania, lost his life amid post-electoral disturbances in Dar es Salaam. His family has been pressing Kenyan authorities for help in repatriating his body for burial, highlighting the challenges they face without official support.
On November 21, Principal Secretary Korir Sing'Oei met with Ogutu's relatives to offer condolences. "Met the family of the late John Okoth Ogutu, a school teacher in Tanzania, who lost his life during the post-electoral disturbances in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania," Sing'Oei stated. He further promised, "Assured them of the government’s commitment to finding and repatriating the remains of our late national."
Sing'Oei emphasized that President William Ruto's administration would engage diplomatic and procedural avenues with Tanzanian officials. This response addresses concerns over delays, which reports link to the slow swearing-in of Tanzania's new cabinet members. Some Kenyans had criticized the Kenyan government's quiet stance following Tanzania's cabinet formation.
The family reported that Ogutu's body was initially at Mwanyamala mortuary, but colleagues found it missing upon checking. While details of his death remain unclear, the family seeks justice and a probe into the incident. Ogutu was one of many victims in Tanzania's election-related violence, which the opposition there has described as a massacre under President Samia Suluhu Hassan. The UN Human Rights Commission has urged swift investigations into the killings.
This case underscores the complexities of cross-border support for Kenyans abroad, especially in politically tense environments.