DAE ES SALAAM, Tanzania- Kenyan politician and lawyer Martha Karua, along with human rights advocates Gloria Kimani and Lynn Ngugi, were detained and denied entry into Tanzania on Sunday morning.
The trio had traveled to Dar es Salaam to observe the court proceedings of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who faces treason charges.
Deportation complete ! On board @KQSupport flight No 485 for Nairobi
Karua, leader of Kenya’s People’s Liberation Party (PLP), announced the incident via her X (formerly Twitter) account, stating that they were held at Julius Nyerere International Airport and were awaiting deportation.
“We thought that as citizens of Jumuia we walk free but not yet uhuru,” she remarked, referencing the East African Community (EAC) and expressing concern over restricted movement within member states.
Hon. @MarthaKarua visit was part of her broader commitment to safeguarding democratic norms and defending political freedoms across the region
The three lawyers had been invited by the East Africa Law Society to observe Lissu’s court hearing.
“This shameful action by President Samia Suluhu’s regime reflect a deep-seated fear of democratic scrutiny and the retrogressive entrenchment of authoritarian rule in Tanzania ,” the Martha Karua led People’s Liberation Party said in a statement.
“The treatment of Hon Karua is a worrying pattern of democratic back sliding and intimidation of opposition leaders and civil society actors in the region.”
Upon arrival, Karua reported that her passport was taken for inspection, and after an hour of consultations among immigration officials, they were informed of their denial of entry without a clear explanation.
Tundu Lissu, a prominent figure in Tanzania’s main opposition party CHADEMA, was arrested last month and charged with treason following speeches that authorities claim incited public unrest.
His arrest has drawn international attention and criticism, with human rights organizations expressing concerns over the Tanzanian government’s commitment to democratic principles.
The incident involving Karua and her colleagues has sparked diplomatic tensions between Kenya and Tanzania.
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Member of Parliament Babu Owino condemned the detention, urging the Kenyan government to bar Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu from entering Kenya in retaliation.
This development raises questions about the freedom of movement within the EAC and the treatment of legal observers and human rights defenders.
This disgraceful act is not only an affront to their personal dignity and fundamental freedoms but also a blatant violation of the principles of the East African Community (EAC), of which both Kenya and Tanzania are founding members. The EAC Treaty guarantees the free movement of
Lobby groups led by Amnesty International-Kenya have condemned the incident.
“It simultaneously erodes international public trust in Tanzania’s electoral and judicial processes. We demand their release and access to observe trial this week,” Amnesty International-Kenya Executive Director Irungu Houghton said.
“Denying @MarthaKarua @gloria_kimani @ngugi_lynn access to observe the @TunduALissu trial undermines the fundamental right to a fair and public hearing enshrined in international human rights law. It simultaneously erodes international public trust in Tanzania’s electoral and
