Karua deported back to Nairobi after airport standoff in Tanzania
Earlier, Karua reported that she was detained at the airport along with two lawyers upon their arrival at 9 a.m.
People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua has revealed that she is en route back to Kenya following nearly six hours of detention at Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere International Airport.
Taking to her X account on Sunday, Karua confirmed that the deportation process had been finalized.
"Deportation complete! On board KQ flight No. 485 for Nairobi," she posted.
At the time of this posting, the PLP chief said she'd arrived in Nairobi.
"Landed at JKIA safely awaiting to disembark," posted Karua on her X.
Earlier, Karua reported that she was detained at the airport along with two lawyers upon their arrival at 9 a.m.
"I landed at Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport at 9 a.m., where immigration officers referred my passport to a supervisor. I was then made to wait for an hour as she consulted her superiors," she said.
"I have been denied entry into Tanzania, and together with my two colleagues, we are currently awaiting deportation at the airport."
Martha Karua has revealed that she was detained alongside fellow human rights advocates and lawyers Lynn Ngugi and Gloria Kimani. The trio had traveled as official guests of the East Africa Law Society (EALS) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).
Expressing her frustration, Karua raised concerns about what she termed as an unjustified limitation of her right to move freely within the East African Community (EAC).
"As a citizen of Jumuiya, I find it troubling that my freedom of movement within the EAC appears to be unjustifiably curtailed," she remarked.
Karua suggested their denied entry into Tanzania could be tied to their interest in the controversial case involving Tanzanian opposition figure Tundu Lissu, who is currently facing treason charges.
"There’s a clear link between us—Gloria Kimani, a member of LSK’s council, Lynn Ngugi, and I—as guests of EALS. I believe those expressing concern over Tundu Lissu’s politically charged case are being deliberately blocked from entering," she said.
Her remarks came shortly after Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing’Oei, confirmed that the Kenyan High Commission in Dar es Salaam was actively engaging Tanzanian authorities over the matter.
"The Kenyan Mission in Dar has initiated contact with relevant Tanzanian officials and will provide an update on developments soon," stated Sing’Oei, referring to Kenya’s High Commissioner to Tanzania, Isaac Njenga, who is leading the efforts.
