Prominent Kenyan politician and Senior Counsel Martha Karua, alongside two fellow lawyers, are currently detained at Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, denying them entry into Tanzania.
The trio, invited as guests of the East African Law Society (EALS), had arrived to observe the ongoing treason trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, set to continue on Monday.
Authorities have indicated that the lawyers are awaiting deportation back to Nairobi, prompting concerns over regional cooperation and freedom of movement within the East African Community (EAC).
Karua, the leader of Kenya’s People’s Liberation Party (PLP) and a vocal advocate for human rights, expressed dismay at the treatment, invoking the legacy of Tanzania’s founding president, Julius Nyerere.
“We are chilling at Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where the three of us have been detained, awaiting deportation,” Karua said in a statement.
“This is not what he must have envisaged — that we are detained here, despite our common trade and shared regional ideals.” She concluded with the liberation slogan, “Aluta continua,” signaling continued resistance against political oppression.
The detained lawyers, identified as Gloria Kimani, a council member of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), and Lynn Ngugi, were part of a delegation coordinated by the EALS, LSK, and the Uganda Law Society.
Karua claimed their detention stemmed from their interest in Lissu’s politically charged case.
“The common thread that binds us is that we are all guests of the East Africa Law Society, and I guess all visitors who may be interested in the politically motivated case against Tundu Lissu,” she stated.
Tundu Lissu, the chairman of Tanzania’s leading opposition party, Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), faces treason charges following remarks made at a rally in southern Tanzania in April 2025.
Prosecutors allege his call for electoral reforms under the slogan “No Reforms, No Election” incited rebellion against the government.
The charges, which carry a potential death penalty, have drawn international condemnation, with Karua and other rights advocates labeling them as an attempt to suppress political competition ahead of Tanzania’s October 2025 presidential elections.
Karua, who has been a staunch supporter of Lissu since his arrest, previously led a pan-African delegation to Dar es Salaam on April 24 to attend his trial.
She has consistently criticized the Tanzanian government, accusing it of violating democratic principles and human rights. Her outspoken stance drew a sharp rebuke from Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), Tanzania’s ruling party, with Vice Chairman Stephen Wasira accusing her of interfering in Tanzania’s internal affairs.
“Martha Karua has made a career of political disruption,” Wasira said in April, urging her to respect Tanzania “
Karua, a leader of the People’s Liberation Party (PLP), has also been a prominent advocate for Ugandan opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, serving as his legal representative in several high-profile cases.
Her involvement in Besigye’s defense stems from her longstanding commitment to defending political freedoms across East Africa, often taking on cases where opposition figures face state-led persecution.
Karua’s legal expertise and fearless advocacy have made her a key figure in regional human rights circles, amplifying her role in challenging politically motivated prosecutions.