Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – Kenyan politician and human rights advocate Martha Karua has been denied entry into Tanzania, along with two of her colleagues, ahead of a planned court appearance to observe proceedings involving Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
Ms Karua, the leader of Kenya’s People’s Liberation Party, said she was detained by immigration authorities upon arrival at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam on Saturday morning. She had travelled to Tanzania at the invitation of the East Africa Law Society.
In a statement posted on social media, Ms Karua said her passport was referred to a senior immigration officer, who kept her waiting for over an hour before confirming that she would not be permitted to enter the country. No official explanation was given for the decision.
“I am concerned that as a citizen of the East African Community, my access to a fellow member state has been inexplicably restricted,” she said.
She was accompanied by lawyer Gitobu Ngugi and activist Grace Kimani. The three were scheduled to attend a court session on Monday, where Mr Lissu, chairman of the opposition Chadema party, is due to appear on treason charges. He was arrested on 10 April following remarks he made at a political rally calling for electoral reforms.
Ms Karua has been vocal in supporting Mr Lissu’s case and is affiliated with a pan-African human rights coalition campaigning for the charges against him to be dropped, calling them politically motivated.
The Tanzanian authorities have yet to comment on the incident or provide an official reason for the entry denial.
The move has sparked concern among regional observers, with legal and civil society groups calling for clarification. Critics say the decision raises questions about Tanzania’s commitment to regional cooperation and freedom of expression within the East African Community (EAC).
The East Africa Law Society has not yet responded to the developments.
