NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya’s former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, along with human rights defenders Hanifa Adan and Hussein Khalid, found themselves detained in Dar es Salaam on Monday in what’s becoming an increasingly high-stakes East African diplomatic drama.
Their “crime”? Traveling to Tanzania in solidarity with opposition leader Tundu Lissu, whose politically charged treason trial has captured regional attention.
A Cold Welcome for East African Neighbors
The trio landed in Tanzania to observe court proceedings involving Lissu—a move Tanzanian authorities apparently didn’t take lightly.
According to Hanifa, the group was held without explanation from 2 a.m., left in deserted terminals with no food, no comfort, and no clarity.
“This is utterly ridiculous and petty,” she tweeted. “We’re hungry, the terminals are deserted, and we’re here with no reason given.”
Hussein Khalid echoed the sentiment: “We came in solidarity with Tanzanian lawyers and human rights defenders. Instead, we’ve been treated like suspects.”
For a region that prides itself on East African Community (EAC) unity and freedom of movement, the detentions raise serious questions. Especially when you consider that this wasn’t the first.
Karua’s Detention Signals a Pattern
Just a day earlier, prominent Kenyan lawyer and People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua was also held at the same airport for over six hours before being deported.
Her companions, legal professionals Lynn Ngugi and Gloria Kimani, both affiliated with the East Africa Law Society (EALS) and Law Society of Kenya (LSK), received the same treatment.
For context, the EAC Treaty allows for free movement of people among member states. Yet, as Karua pointed out, these back-to-back detentions contradict both the letter and the spirit of that agreement.
Kenya Responds: EAC Treaty Must Be Respected
Back in Nairobi, the Kenyan government is now weighing in. Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’Oei urged Tanzania to release Mutunga and his colleagues “consistent with the norms of the East African Community.”
Detaining legal observers from a neighboring state—especially ones as high-profile as a former Chief Justice—doesn’t just raise eyebrows. It threatens regional diplomacy.
For a bloc that’s been pushing toward integration and even considering a political federation, this kind of incident throws cold water on those aspirations.
This isn’t just about a few people stuck in an airport. It’s about trust in East Africa’s institutions. It’s about human rights, legal solidarity, and the ability to hold power to account without borders getting in the way.
And if the East African Community can’t guarantee free movement for its most vocal defenders of justice, what does that say for everyone else?
