Over 20,000 Kenyans Sign Petition Demanding Investigation into Tanzania Post-Election Violence

More than 20,000 Kenyans have signed petitions calling for international investigation into alleged massacres following Tanzania’s disputed October 29 election, as regional pressure mounts on authorities in Dar es Salaam to account for reported mass killings of protesters.

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Kenyan activist Cyprian Nyakundi, who has been instrumental in mobilizing support for the petition drive, announced on his X account that the initial signature threshold had been reached. “The deadline is still midnight to hit 20,000 signatures,” Nyakundi wrote. “If we can manage that, then this petition can easily blow to 500,000+ signatures in the next few days and get global coverage/attention for the Tanzania killings to be recognized as a massacre.”

The petition campaign comes amid growing international concern over the violent crackdown that followed President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s overwhelming election victory, which opposition parties boycotted citing electoral irregularities and fraud.

Amnesty International has actively urged people to support the petition, issuing a stark warning about the deteriorating situation in Tanzania. “Tanzania is facing a deepening human rights crisis,” the organization stated. “Under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzanian authorities have been deliberately silencing dissent by targeting government critics, journalists, civil society, human rights defenders, and opposition voices.”

The human rights organization is specifically calling on the African Union and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to take urgent action in response to the crisis.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has added his voice to demands for accountability, calling for immediate investigations into killings and human rights violations linked to the October 29 elections. The UN estimates hundreds have been killed in the post-election violence, though activists claim the death toll may exceed 1,000.

The strong response from Kenya, Tanzania’s neighbor and key regional partner, signals growing unease across East Africa about the crisis. The petition drive represents one of the largest grassroots mobilization efforts by Kenyans on a foreign policy issue in recent years.

Beyond the deaths, Tanzanian authorities have arrested more than 240 people on treason charges, imposed internet shutdowns, and detained activists and influencers who documented or commented on the protests. Human rights groups have reported that bodies have been moved to undisclosed locations, complicating efforts to establish an accurate death count.

The petition campaign aims to pressure international bodies to launch independent investigations and hold those responsible for alleged atrocities accountable. Organizers hope that reaching higher signature thresholds will generate sustained global media attention and diplomatic pressure.

The African Union and regional economic communities have faced criticism for their limited response to the crisis thus far. Civil society organizations argue that the continent’s leading institutions must demonstrate their commitment to the human rights principles enshrined in regional charters.

As the petition gains momentum, activists are watching to see whether regional and international bodies will translate public pressure into concrete action, including potential fact-finding missions, sanctions, or mediation efforts.

The Tanzanian government has defended its handling of the post-election period and maintained that security forces acted appropriately in response to violent protests.

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