The civil societies in Kenya are appealing to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the atrocities meted out on ordinary and unarmed citizens of Tanzania by politic and military following last month’s disputed presidential election.

Led by Kenya Human Rights Commission Executive Director Denis Malombe, the civil societies expressed reservation over the national reconciliation mechanism set by President Samia Suluhu Hassan terming it a cover up for atrocities committed against the citizens.

Scores went missing, prompting fears that they may have been killed by the political bodies dumped in mass graves as may be the case with hundreds – civil society allege thousands – with Tanzanians suspected to have been buried in unidentified graves.

In response, President Samia Suluhu Hassan anno8ncd on November 4, formation of a commission to probe the atrocities.

The Associated Press reports that Tanzania’s president want the inquiry commission to probe the killings that occurred during election protests that began on October 29, 2025, and said she had ordered the release of some of the arrested youths.

Hundreds of people were arrested during three days of protests, and some face treason charges. President Hassan said that “as a mother,” she had forgiven those who may have joined the protests out of peer pressure.

“For those who were just following the wave, let them be counselled and released,” she said.

President Hassan acknowledged the opposition party Chadema’s demands that, for any meaningful dialogue and reconciliation to happen, constitutional reforms were key, and she said that her administration would embark on a constitutional reform process within its first 100 days.

The Chadema party had been calling for constitutional reforms and was barred from taking part in the recent election after demanding basic electoral reforms before the polls.

The Chadema party leader, Tundu Lissu, remains in prison and is facing treason charges, and his trial is yet to resume following the election protests. His deputy, John Heche, was arrested on Election Day and released three weeks later.

During her first parliamentary address since the election, President Suluhu Hassan said Friday that the commission would look into issues that led to the unrest and help inform the reconciliation and peace efforts the government was planning to undertake.

The UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk had called for a probe into the killings and the alleged concealing of evidence.

Speaking in Bondo where they visited the grave of former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Malombe said the proposed mechanism has no capacity to investigate atrocities committed by a sitting head of state and therefore urged ICC to intervene to ensure accountability.

“We are calling for truth, justice and accountability and as actors we have refused these mechanisms she is proposing, which are part of white-wash and cover up,” Malombe said.

Malombe who was flanked by Transparency International Kenya (TI) and The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA) counterparts, said Kenyans were not involved in protest that broke out in Tanzania adding that the protesters were Tanzania citizens who are tired of dictatorship and bad governance.

He on the other hand lauded the protestors for showing courage by standing against autocracy and bad governance in the region.

“We celebrate them for being courageous and standing against autocracy in the region,” Malombe said.

Executive Director TISA Diana Gichengo revealed that the Kenya civil society has written to Africa Human Rights Mechanism to add its voice on complaints about the atrocities committed against the citizens of Tanzania.

On her part, Sheila Malombe, Executive Director TI Kenya assured that the civil society shall keep up with the legacy of Raila Odinga for third liberation both in the country and in East Africa.

The civil society groups from Nairobi, Vihiga ,Kisumu and Siaya counties were  joined by former anti-corruption czar John Githongo who paid homage to Raila Odinga as a champion of democracy, human rights and social justice, describing him as the centre of gravity of Kenyan politics, whose legacy will leave on.

• A Tell Media /KNA report / By Brian Ondeng