NAIROBI, Kenya –Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has strongly condemned the detention and subsequent deportation of Senior Counsel Martha Karua by Ugandan authorities, describing the incident as a threat to democratic freedoms and regional integration within East Africa.
In a statement issued after visiting Karua, Kalonzo said he was accompanied by former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi, former Chief Justice David Maraga, DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa and other leaders who had gone to express solidarity with the veteran lawyer and politician.
Karua was deported to Kenya after being denied entry into Uganda, where she had travelled to join a legal team involved in a high-profile case.
“What transpired is deeply troubling and sets a dangerous precedent for our region,” Kalonzo said.
He argued that the decision to deny entry to Karua, a Senior Counsel and prominent public figure, undermines the principles upon which the East African Community is founded, including the free movement of people, mutual respect among member states and democratic engagement.
“The arbitrary denial of entry to a respected leader and Senior Counsel is not only an affront to her dignity, but also a direct violation of the principles that underpin the East African Community,” he said.
Kalonzo warned against what he described as a shrinking democratic space across the region, saying actions targeting political leaders, lawyers and activists risk weakening democratic institutions and the rule of law.
“We must not allow the continued shrinking of democratic space within our region to become the norm. Today it is Martha Karua, tomorrow it could be any voice that dares to stand for justice, accountability and the rule of law,” he stated.
The former Vice President called on East Africans to defend democratic freedoms and reject actions that undermine regional unity and constitutional governance.
He also expressed solidarity with Karua and others advocating for justice, accountability and democratic governance across East Africa.
“We stand in full solidarity with Martha Karua and with all those who continue to champion a just, open and democratic East Africa,” Kalonzo said.
Karua’s deportation has sparked criticism from legal bodies, human rights organisations and opposition leaders in Kenya, with many demanding an explanation from Ugandan authorities over the circumstances that led to her detention and removal from the country.
The incident has renewed debate about political freedoms, legal representation and the state of democracy within the East African Community, particularly as regional leaders continue to push for deeper integration among member states.
