Edwin Sifuna Tickles Kenyans as He Addresses Tanzania Deportations in Fluent Kiswahili in Parliament
- Edwin Sifuna honoured his social media promise by addressing Tanzanian deportations entirely in Kiswahili
- The viral video of Sifuna’s cheeky Kiswahili remarks triggered a wave of online humour, with netizens hailing his wit and linguistic command
- The deportation of Martha Karua, Lynn Ngugi, and others for attending Tundu Lissu’s trial ignited public outrage and sparked a broader regional debate
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The online battle between Kenyans and Tanzanians has just escalated to a new level, this time reaching the floor of Parliament.
Source: Facebook
Did Sifuna address Tanzania deportations in Kiswahili?
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has become the talk of the town after he cheekily weighed in on the diplomatic drama during a recent Senate session.
The ODM Secretary General delivered a brief but memorable speech entirely in Kiswahili, honouring a promise he had made earlier to Kenyans on social media.
“Kesho italazim Kiswahili tu bungeni ili wenzetu wa Tanzania watupate kwa njia ya uhakiki,” he had posted, vowing to speak Kiswahili in Parliament so Tanzanians could clearly understand him.
When he rose to speak, Sifuna stayed true to his word despite being told that the matter concerning the detention and deportation of Kenyan activists in Tanzania was not scheduled for discussion that day.
"I had promised Kenyans that today we would speak in Kiswahili because I was expecting that my motion to address the issue of how Kenyans were mistreated in Tanzania would be on the agenda today," he said in Kiswahili.
His fluent Kiswahili speech and witty tweet on social media cracked up many Kenyans, and the clip quickly went viral.
Why did Sifuna speak in fluent Kiswahili?
Sifuna’s remarks followed diplomatic tensions that erupted after the controversial deportation of Kenyan activists from Tanzania.
The incident saw prominent figures, including Martha Karua, human rights defenders Gloria Kimani and Lynn Ngugi, detained at Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Airport.
The activists had travelled to Tanzania to follow the trial of Tanzanian opposition leader, Tundu Lissu, but were denied entry and later deported.
The move sparked backlash in Kenya, with many questioning Tanzania’s actions.
In response, President Samia Suluhu defended her government, claiming the deportations were necessary to protect national sovereignty.
Despite the seriousness of the diplomatic situation, both Sifuna and netizens have come out guns blazing, firing comic shots at Tanzania.
Watch the video below:
Here are some social media reactions:
Dâvé:
"Wow kumbe Sifuna can speak fluent Kiswahili sanifu."
Braza Bien211:
"Wakenya mnaonaje Sifuna aki president suggestions."
Lipsy:
"Tena pia kiswahili tunaongea ni yenye imeenda shule.alafu we have alot of issues to deal with, hatuna time ya kudiscuss a country in our parliaments as u can see."
MOKOGOTI BAREFOOT BANDIT:
"Hata kiswahili chenyewe Tanzania hawaradi."
Edwin:
"Tanzania wanafaa kuona jinsi muonekano wa bunge unafaa kuwa tukianza na viti,sio izo matakataka zao."
James Kabutu:
"Tanzania tuachie Oscar Sudi na Senator Mundigi."
Stephan Mutia:
"Wazo zuri bro atleast watuelewe for once."
Mary Muthoni:
"Ilibidi ndio watanzania waelewe."
Janepher Malese:
"Yeah hawaelewi kizungu kwa bunge wanaongea kiswahili hakuna kingereza."
Source: Facebook
Did KOX 'greet' Tanzanian MPs?
In related news, Kenyan netizens hit back hard at Tanzanian lawmakers who had hurled insults their way.
The Tanzanian MPs had portrayed Kenyans as mentally inferior, claiming the country was chaotic, poorly governed, and trailing Tanzania in discipline and development.
They further argued that Tanzanians had nothing to gain from Kenya and branded Kenyan youth as rude and lacking in manners.
Soon after those remarks, Kenyan online users launched a fierce digital retaliation.
In a now-infamous move dubbed 'sending greetings', they bombarded Tanzanian MPs with offensive messages after their phone numbers were leaked.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
