Although Kenya’s Foreign Affairs ministry says that all is well, it is fighting growing diplomatic tension with its neighbour behind the scenes, even as an isolated Kenya starts to chart its own path in the region. Described as the “Bulldozer president”, Mr Magufuli is presiding over a change of government policy that looks at his nation’s priorities at the expense of the East Africa Community (EAC).
After he was elected, Magufuli started making far-reaching changes that won him instant admirers at home and abroad. But it is only when he started making a policy shift that he caught Kenya’s attention.
First, Magufuli declared that Tanzanian companies should not import from Kenya anything that can be bought in Tanzania. He later tightened the already stringent work permit requirements for foreigners working in Tanzania. In May, Tanzania announced that it would reduce the amount of electricity it buys from Kenya by 67 per cent.
All these decisions did not rattle Kenya because they did not seem targeted at the country and were in line with its national economic interests at the time. But shortly after, Magufuli upstaged Kenya on the pipeline deal with Uganda. This saw Uganda choose to build the Sh400 billion oil pipeline through Tanzania, leaving Kenya in the cold. FULL STOY
