A Tanzanian court has sentenced 26 Kenyans to one-year imprisonment after they were found guilty of entering the East African country illegally. – By John Mutiso.
The Kenyan citizens were given an alternative of paying TSh 500,000 (KSh 23,600) as a fine failure to which they will spend 12 months behind bars.
Rombo District Court acting resident magistrate Baraka Kibululu convicted the Kenyan nationals for entering the East African country without permits and passports.
Paschal Mayunga who is the Rombo District Assistant Inspector of Immigration told the court the Kenyans were arrested in Usseri region without valid permits and passports.
The official said all the foreigners nabbed pleaded guilty to the charges leading to their sentencing.
“Since all the accused have pleaded guilty to the offense and the court convicts all of them for the offense they were charged with, so for committing the crime the court sentenced them to one year in jail or pay a fine of Sh500,000 each (KSh 23,600),” he said.
Tanzania commenced the process of evicting foreigners in 2016 a year after President John Magufuli was elected into office.
Magufuli’s administration stated a number of foreigners were doing jobs that could be done by Tanzanians hence causing unemployment among the nationals in their own country.
For one to enter Tanzania as a tourist you can either apply for a Tanzanian eVisa or receive a visa on arrival.
You will also need a passport with over 6 months of validity, digital copy of a recent passport photo, proof of visa fee payment, and a complete declaration form.