This archive report was first published on 19 May 2020.
Covid-19 Diplomatic Row Escalates into Online 'War' Between Kenyans and Tanzanians ¶
Published on May 19, 2020
A diplomatic row between Kenya and Tanzania over the containment of the Covid-19 pandemic has taken an unexpected turn, with citizens of the two nations engaging in a heated online exchange.
The online spat, which has been trending on Twitter under the hashtag #KenyaVsTanzania, appears to have started as a result of a standoff between the two countries over the containment of the spread of Covid-19.
On May 16, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced the closure of all entry points between Tanzania and Kenya, a move that was promptly retaliated by the Tanzanian government, which announced that all trucks transporting goods from Kenya would not be allowed past the Tanzanian border.
As the diplomatic row escalated, Kenyans and Tanzanians took to Twitter to engage in a hilarious and sometimes sarcastic exchange, with many Kenyans bragging about why Kenya is better than Tanzania.
Here are a few samples of the online exchange:
- Huyu Ni mwana mziki kutoka Kule Kenya #KenyaVsTanzania — JacksonTZ ™ (@ItsJacksonKE) May 19, 2020
- Diamond platinumz tunakujua #KenyaVsTanzania — NGENO VICTOR (@kerichocoolkid) May 19, 2020
- Tanzanians realizing this war is being conducted in English 😂😂😂😂 #KenyaVsTanzania — ☆ ⓗⓐⓡⓓⓛⓨ ☆ (@hardlyngotta) May 19, 2020
The online exchange has been described as a 'war' between the two nations, with many Kenyans and Tanzanians taking to social media to express their opinions on the matter.
