This archive report was first published on 7 July 2019.
On a visit to Tanzania, President Uhuru Kenyatta's warm reception by President John Magufuli has sparked a thaw in frosty relations between the two countries.
According to sources, President Kenyatta had initially planned to visit his Tanzanian counterpart for a few hours on Friday, but decided to spend the night after an awe-inspiring reception in northern Tanzania.
During his visit, President Kenyatta and President Magufuli engaged in a series of lighthearted exchanges, with the former joking that his son might find a wife in Chato, President Magufuli's hometown.
President Kenyatta also used the opportunity to address the controversy surrounding Starehe MP Charles Njagua's comments on evicting Tanzanians and traders of other nationalities from Kenyan markets.
He emphasized the importance of cross-border trade and the need for politicians to be exposed to different cultures and perspectives.
President Magufuli, in turn, praised President Kenyatta as a friend 'for many days since he was a minister' and expressed his commitment to building the economies of their countries.
The visit comes after a period of trade tensions between the two nations, including Kenya's imposition of tariffs on flour and other products from Tanzania in September last year.
President Magufuli has long accused Kenya and other East African Community members of exploiting Tanzania's resources, but the two presidents appeared to downplay these tensions during their meeting.
