NAIROBI, Kenya- Senior Counsel Martha Karua is expected to return to Kenya on Monday afternoon after being deported from Uganda, where she had travelled to join the legal team representing Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago in ongoing treason proceedings.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Karua is scheduled to arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at approximately 3:30 p.m.
Leaders from the East Africa Law Society (EALS) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) are expected to receive her upon arrival amid growing concern over the circumstances surrounding her reported denial of entry into Uganda.
Karua had travelled to Uganda to participate in the defence of Lukwago, a prominent opposition figure facing treason-related charges. Her deportation has sparked criticism from legal bodies and human rights advocates across the region.
Earlier, LSK President Charles Kanjama, who is part of Lukwago’s defence team in Uganda, questioned the decision by Ugandan authorities to deny Karua entry while allowing other members of the legal team to proceed.
“The right to legal representation and the independence of counsel are fundamental to the administration of justice,” Kanjama said, calling on Ugandan authorities to explain the move.
The incident has also drawn attention from the East Africa Law Society, which has previously advocated for the free movement of legal professionals within the East African Community and the protection of the rule of law across member states.
Karua, a former Kenyan Justice Minister and one of the region’s most prominent human rights lawyers, has represented opposition leaders and political figures in several East African countries.
Her deportation comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over the treatment of opposition figures and their legal representatives in Uganda, particularly in cases involving treason and national security charges.
By Monday afternoon, there had been no official explanation from Ugandan authorities regarding the decision to deny Karua entry into the country.
