A Tanzanian lawmaker’s call for the torture of prominent Kenyan activists has triggered a regional outcry, raising fresh fears about shrinking democratic space in East Africa.
Maryam Omar Said, a Member of Parliament in Tanzania, shocked many when she said that former Kenyan Justice Minister Martha Karua and activist Boniface Mwangi “should have been tortured” by the Tanzanian military. The two had recently travelled to Arusha to observe the trial of Tanzanian opposition figure Tundu Lissu, who is facing treason charges.
“They came here to interfere in our matters. We should have handed them over to the army,” Maryam Said reportedly told a local audience, drawing gasps from human rights observers across the region.
Karua and Mwangi had been invited by the East Africa Law Society, a respected regional legal body, to witness court proceedings involving Lissu. He was shot multiple times in 2017 in an assassination attempt widely believed to be politically motivated. Now, he faces charges that many see as equally political.
Lissu’s alleged crime? Calling for electoral reforms and better governance.
“I came to show solidarity,” Karua said in a brief press statement after the court session. “Tundu’s case is not just about Tanzania. It’s about the direction our region is taking.”
Mwangi added, “If asking for democracy is treason, then we are all guilty.”
The backlash to MP Said’s remarks was swift.
“This is not just a statement. It reflects a worrying mindset,” said a Nairobi-based analyst, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue. “When lawmakers start endorsing torture, we are in dangerous territory.”
Kenyan social media lit up with anger and disbelief. #TanzaniaMP trended for hours, with users accusing the MP of promoting tyranny. Others pointed to what they called a growing alliance between Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, and Kenya’s William Ruto — a trio some fear could lead to a rollback of civil liberties in the region.
“This confirms what we’ve feared since 2018,” wrote one Kenyan activist on X (formerly Twitter). “Ruto’s win in 2022 was not just about Kenya. It may have marked the beginning of a wider crackdown on democracy in East Africa.”
Tanzania has long been criticized for suppressing dissent. Under late President John Magufuli, journalists were arrested, opposition leaders detained, and press freedom deteriorated sharply. President Suluhu’s rise was initially met with hope, but many now say that little has changed.
In Kenya, however, multiparty democracy has held firm for over two decades. Citizens enjoy a vibrant press, an independent judiciary, and regular elections with relatively open contestation.
“There is no question that Kenya remains the most democratic country in East Africa,” said Dr. Lydia Njoroge, a political scientist at the University of Nairobi. “But democracy is fragile. We cannot assume it will always be so.”
The East African Community (EAC), a regional bloc promoting political and economic integration, now finds itself under pressure to address the growing divide in political values among its members.
“There is a stark contrast between what’s written in the EAC treaty and what’s happening on the ground,” said a source familiar with the bloc’s operations. “If left unaddressed, this could erode the EAC’s credibility.”
For many Kenyans, the message is clear: Protecting their hard-won freedoms means standing in solidarity with others in the region.
“Democracy anywhere is at risk if we ignore threats next door,” said Boniface Mwangi. “We are not just fighting for Tanzania or Uganda. We are fighting for the soul of East Africa.”
Tanzanian officials have not responded to calls for comment on the MP’s remarks. Meanwhile, the East Africa Law Society reaffirmed that its invitation to Karua and Mwangi was both legal and in line with regional cooperation agreements.
As Lissu’s trial continues, so too does the debate about the future of democracy in East Africa — and what ordinary citizens must do to protect it.
