"BARRED AT THE BORDER: MARTHA KARUA DEPORTED FROM TANZANIA AMID TUNDU LISSU TRIAL TENSIONS"

Kenyan opposition leader Martha Karua was on Sunday deported from Tanzania after being denied entry at Julius Nyerere International Airport, in a move that has sparked regional backlash and raised concerns over democratic freedoms within the East African Community (EAC).

Karua, the leader of Kenya’s People’s Liberation Party (PLP) and former Justice Minister, had arrived in Dar es Salaam alongside Gloria Kimani, a Council member of the Law Society of Kenya, and Lynn Ngugi of the Pan-African Progressive Leaders Solidarity Network. The three were invited by the East Africa Law Society to observe court proceedings in the treason case against Tanzanian opposition figure Tundu Lissu.

“I have been denied entry into Tanzania… we are awaiting deportation,” Karua posted on X early Sunday morning.

She later confirmed she had been placed on a Kenya Airways flight to Nairobi, landing shortly after 4 p.m.

According to Karua, an immigration officer referred her passport to a supervisor upon arrival at 9:00 a.m. After about an hour of consultation, the group was informed they would not be allowed entry.

Regional Tensions Rise

Karua linked the denial of entry to her active advocacy for Tundu Lissu, the Chadema party leader who faces treason charges after calling for electoral reforms in April. Karua has been leading a pan-African lobby for Lissu’s release and had previously observed his trial in May 2024 without incident.

“I am concerned that as a citizen of Jumuiya, my access within Jumuiya countries appears inexplicably restricted,” Karua noted, referencing the East African Community.

Her party condemned the deportation, calling it “a disgraceful affront to personal dignity and regional principles.”

“This shameful action by President Samia Suluhu’s regime reflects a deep-seated fear of democratic scrutiny,” PLP said in a statement.

Widespread Condemnation

The incident drew swift condemnation from rights groups and legal bodies across the continent.

Amnesty International Kenya described the deportation as a violation of international human rights standards. “It undermines the right to a fair and public hearing and erodes public trust in Tanzania’s judicial system,” said Executive Director Irũngũ Houghton.

The Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) also expressed shock, stating that Karua and her colleagues were unlawfully denied their right to observe a public trial.

PALU called on Tanzanian authorities to apologize, offer reparations, and guarantee free movement to all observers intending to attend Lissu’s trial.

Background: The Lissu Case

Tundu Lissu, a leading opposition voice in Tanzania, was arrested and charged with treason after addressing a rally calling for constitutional and electoral reforms. The charges have been widely criticized as politically motivated.

Karua, Kimani, and Ngugi were set to observe Lissu’s next hearing at the Kisutu Magistrates' Court on Monday, May 19.

As pressure mounts on the Tanzanian government, the incident has once again highlighted growing authoritarianism in East Africa — and the shrinking space for civil liberties, even among member states of the same regional bloc.