Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua detained in Tanzania, awaits deportation
Advocates Martha Karua, Gloria Kimani and Lyn Ngugi at Julius Nyerere International Airport blocked from entering Tanzania. PHOTO/COMBO
What you need to know:
- Their arrest comes a day before the arraignment of Tanzania's opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who has been in police custody for more than three weeks now.
People's Liberation Party (PLP) leader and advocate Martha Karua has been detained at Mwalimu Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Ms Karua and two other Kenyan advocates are in Tanzania in solidarity with detained opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
According to a short clip posted by the party leader on her social media accounts on Sunday morning, she was detained alongside her three colleagues by Tanzanian authorities. They are waiting to be deported back home.
“Chilling at Mwalimu Nyerere International Airport, Dar es Salaam, where the three of us have been detained awaiting deportation. We thought that as citizens of Jumuia we walk free but not yet uhuru,” Ms Karua said.
She said the dreams of Tanzania's founding leaders to create a conducive environment for all Africans to come to Tanzania had been thwarted by the current regime of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Ms Karua, detained alongside Human Rights Advocate Lynne Ngugi and Law Society of Kenya Council Member Gloria Kimani, explained they were guests of the East Africa Law Society, but she claimed their visit seemed to have rattled the government.
“There is fear in this government of our dear Mama Samia Suluhu about people who may be interested in the politically motivated actions against Tundu Lissu.”
Their arrest comes a day before the arraignment of Tanzania's opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who has been in police custody for more than three weeks now.
Mr Tundu is expected to be arraigned on Monday, May 19. He is facing charges of spreading false information with the intention of causing civil disobedience against the government.
Mr Tundu, who is the leader of Chadema party, has been one of the greatest critics of the government of Mama Suluhu since she took over the office following the death of President John Pombe Magufuli.
The Tanzanian government has been condemned by the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition, which said the right to observe public trials is a recognized component of a fair and transparent judicial process.
“We are deeply shocked and disturbed by this incident, especially given that this is not the first time Advocate Martha Karua has participated in observing proceedings in this matter.
"It is worth noting that on 24th April 2025, she appeared in court for the same purpose without any interference from authorities. The right to observe public trials is a recognized component of a fair and transparent judicial process, as enshrined in both domestic law and international human rights instruments, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” the lobby group said in a statement.
Written by Kevin Cheruiyot
