Ex-Chief Justice David Maraga Arrives in Dar es Salaam for Tundu Lissu’s Court Case
Former Chief Justice of Kenya David Maraga arrived in Tanzania on Monday to attend the ongoing court proceedings involving Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is facing treason and incitement charges.
Maraga landed at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam at 10:00 a.m. and confirmed his presence via social media.
“Safely arrived in Dar-es-Salaam. Headed to court for the Tundu Lissu court case,” he posted on X.
His visit makes him the third high-profile Kenyan figure to travel to Tanzania in support of Lissu, who chairs Tanzania’s main opposition party, CHADEMA.
The first Kenyan delegation, led by People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader and prominent lawyer Martha Karua, arrived on Sunday morning alongside Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Council member Gloria Kimani and Pan-African Progressive Leaders Solidarity Network member Lynn Ngugi. The trio was detained shortly after landing and deported back to Kenya.
“I arrived at Dar es Salaam, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Airport at 9 a.m., and immigration referred my passport to the supervisor, who kept me waiting for an hour,” Karua said.
“The common thread between Gloria Kimani, Lynn Ngugi, and I is that we are all guests of the East Africa Law Society (EALS). I suspect all visitors showing interest in the politically motivated case against Tundu Lissu are being denied entry.”
A second Kenyan delegation, including former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, activist Hanifa Adan, and human rights lawyer Hussein Khalid, was also detained at the airport on Monday morning. They too were deported before attending the proceedings.
“We have been detained at Julius Nyerere Airport, Dar es Salaam as we came in for the observance of Tundu Lissu’s case. The trip was in solidarity with Tanzanian lawyers and human rights defenders. No reasons have been given for our detention,” Khalid tweeted.
The Tanzanian government has yet to provide an official explanation for the string of deportations and detentions. The unfolding events have sparked regional concern, particularly around judicial transparency, freedom of movement, and civil society engagement within the East African Community (EAC).
Lissu’s court appearance at Kisutu Magistrates’ Court is part of an ongoing legal battle in which he faces serious accusations of treason and incitement.
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Ex-Chief Justice David Maraga Arrives in Dar es Salaam for Tundu Lissu’s Court Case