I've been denied entry into Tanzania- PLP leader Karua
Karua says immigration officials denied her entry after her passport was submitted to senior officials for further scrutiny.
People's Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua claims she’s been denied entry into Tanzania.
Karua says she arrived at Dar es Salaam’s Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Airport on Sunday morning where immigration officials denied her entry after her passport was submitted to senior officials for further scrutiny.
"I arrived at Daresalaam (sic) Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International airport at nine am and immigration referred my passport to the supervisor who has kept me waiting for an hour as she consults her superiors," said Karua on her X account.
At the time of this reporting, Karua posted a video saying that, together with two other Kenyans, they were awaiting deportation.
"I have been denied entry into Tanzania, and I and two colleagues are awaiting deportation at Mwalimu Nyerere International Airport, Dar es Salaam," she noted.
"As an East African Community citizen, it’s troubling that my movement within a member state is being limited without clear explanation."
According to the PLP Leader, what unites the trio is that they are all guests of the East Africa Law Society (EALS).
"The supervisor has now notified us that we’ve been denied entry into Tanzania, with no explanation provided," Karua added.
"The common thread between Gloria Kimani, a council member of the Law Society of Kenya, and Ngugi Lynn is that we are guests of EALS, and I guess all visitors who may be interested in the politically motivated case against Tindu Lissu."
Reacting to the incident, the Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo has called on the government to intervene.
"This is quite unfortunate that, though we should be enjoying free movement of persons within the East African region, Kenyans can be detained for merely being lawyers. I hope @SingoeiAKorir can urgently intervene."
The President East Africa Law Society Ramah Abubakar says they've sent a team of representatives to assist and assess the situation.
"I have just received news that Hon @MarthaKarua SC, LSK Council Member, @gloria_kimani and Ms @ngugi_lynn have been denied entry into the United Republic of Tanzania this morning at the Julius Nyerere International Airport. We have dispatched our representatives to assist and assess the situation," said Abubakar on his X account.
"I am imploring HE President @SuluhuSamia to intervene and allow entry in the spirit and letter of the EAC Treaty on freedom of Movement of all East Africans. We shall be issuing a full statement in this matter in due course."
Chadema chief Lissu was charged with treason just a day after his arrest, which came in the wake of a rally he held in southern Tanzania.
On April 24, Martha Karua led a Pan-African human rights coalition in denouncing the treason charges levelled against the chairperson of Chadema, Tanzania's main opposition party, terming them a troubling sign of increasing repression under President Samia Suluhu's CCM-led government.
"Tanzania, as a member of the African Union (AU), the East African Community, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), has an obligation to uphold democratic principles, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. The government’s current approach blatantly defies these foundational principles," Karua stated.
Ahead of a court appearance for Lissu, Chadema on Sunday, May 18, 2025, called citizens, human rights activists, civil society organizations, and the international community to closely monitor and peacefully participate in the ongoing court process.
He's expected to appear at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate's Court in Dar es Salaam on Monday, May 19, 2025.
