“Karua Held Hostage?”Tanzania Detains Martha Karua at Airport Over Opposition Ties
Kenya’s firebrand politician and Senior Counsel Martha Karua has sensationally claimed she is being detained at Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere International Airport—and is set to be deported back to Kenya.
In a flurry of early morning posts on X (formerly Twitter), Karua said Tanzanian immigration officers confiscated her passport upon arrival and left her and two fellow human rights lawyers in limbo for hours.
“I have been denied entry into Tanzania. I and two colleagues are awaiting deportation at the airport,” she posted.
Karua was accompanied by lawyers Gloria Kimani and Lynn Ngugi, both respected for their work in legal justice and civic rights. The trio had flown into Dar es Salaam to observe the politically charged treason case against Tanzanian opposition figure Tundu Lissu.
Karua says their entry was blocked because of their affiliation with the East Africa Law Society (EALS) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK)—and, more importantly, because they publicly support Lissu.
“I suspect all visitors who may be interested in the politically motivated case against Tundu Lissu are being denied entry,” she added.
“A Violation of Regional Freedom”
Karua’s voice joins a growing chorus of concern over shrinking democratic space in the region. She expressed dismay that her East African Community (EAC) rights were being disregarded.
“I am concerned that, as a citizen of Jumuiya, my access within the EAC appears inexplicably restricted.”
The outspoken PLP leader—who is also involved in Uganda’s high-profile opposition cases—has not minced words in her criticism of regional crackdowns on dissent.
Today’s move by Tanzanian authorities may send shockwaves through diplomatic corridors and ignite fresh debate over freedom of movement and expression within the EAC.
As of press time, Karua and her colleagues remained confined at the airport, awaiting deportation.
No official comment had been issued by Tanzanian authorities by the time this article was published.
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“Karua Held Hostage?”Tanzania Detains Martha Karua at Airport Over Opposition Ties