NAIROBI, Kenya — Martha Karua, leader of Kenya’s People’s Liberation Party (PLP), and two colleagues were detained at Dar Es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport on Saturday morning, reportedly barred from entering Tanzania without explanation.
Karua, who was accompanied by fellow PLP members Ngugi and Kimani, had arrived in Tanzania as guests of the East Africa Law Society. They were scheduled to observe a court hearing on May 19 related to the politically charged case against Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu. Lissu faces treason and false information charges after calling for electoral reforms in the lead-up to Tanzania’s October elections.
Upon arrival, Karua said immigration officials referred her passport to a supervisor, who kept her waiting for over an hour before denying entry. “I am concerned that as a citizen of @jumuiya my access within @jumuiya appears inexplicably restricted,” she posted on X. No official reason was provided for the denial.
The trio was detained at the airport and is awaiting deportation. Karua has condemned the incident, calling it a “blatant violation of regional freedoms.” The East Africa Community (EAC) has yet to comment on the matter.
The timing of the incident raises questions about political interference ahead of the upcoming trial of Lissu, who has been a vocal critic of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s government. Lissu was charged with treason on April 10 after allegedly inciting rebellion during a public rally. His party, CHADEMA, has been disqualified from the October elections for refusing to sign a mandatory code of conduct.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have condemned the charges against Lissu as politically motivated and called for his immediate release. “The authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Tundu Lissu,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa. “Instead of using these heavy-handed tactics to silence critics, authorities in Tanzania should focus on upholding fundamental human rights.”
As regional tensions rise, the international community is closely monitoring developments in Tanzania, where the political climate appears increasingly fraught ahead of the general elections.
