People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader and prominent Kenyan politician Martha Karua has been denied entry into Tanzania in what is being seen as a politically charged move, raising questions about the region’s commitment to East African integration and democratic values.
Karua, a former Kenyan Justice Minister and a senior counsel, revealed on Sunday that she was held for over an hour at Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport before being informed by immigration officials that she would not be allowed into the country. No official reason was given for the denial.
“I arrived at Dar es Salaam Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Airport at 9:00 a.m., and immigration referred my passport to the supervisor who has kept me waiting for an hour as she consults her superiors,” Karua said in a statement.
“I am concerned that as a citizen of the East African Community, my access within an EAC country appears inexplicably restricted.”
Karua was accompanied by two Kenyan colleagues Gloria Kimani, a council member of the Law Society of Kenya, and Lynn Ngugi who were also denied entry and reportedly await deportation.
All three were traveling as guests of the East Africa Law Society (EALS) to attend proceedings related to the case of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who faces treason charges following a political rally in southern Tanzania.
Lissu, the 2020 presidential candidate for Chadema, was arrested and charged shortly after publicly criticizing the government.
Karua has been a vocal critic of Lissu’s detention. On April 24, she led the Pan-African Progressive Leaders Solidarity Network in denouncing what she termed “politically motivated charges” and accused President Samia Suluhu’s administration of escalating political repression.
“As a member of the African Union, the East African Community, and the Southern African Development Community, Tanzania is bound by foundational commitments to uphold the rule of law, democracy, and human dignity,” Karua said last month.
“The current administration’s conduct flagrantly contradicts these obligations.”
Karua and the pan-African rights group had called for Lissu’s release, restoration of Chadema’s political participation in the upcoming elections, and respect for constitutional and international legal norms.
Lissu’s legal team has also condemned what they describe as unlawful detention practices, including his sudden transfer between prisons without proper legal procedure or notification of his counsel.
This latest incident involving Karua follows a similar episode late last year when Kenyan MP Babu Owino was barred from entering Tanzania.
Owino, a vocal supporter of Tanzanian opposition figures, said he was detained at the same airport in December 2024 and later formally sought clarification from the Tanzanian government.
The repeated exclusion of prominent Kenyan political figures has intensified scrutiny over Tanzania’s commitment to regional cooperation and human rights.
Civil society groups and political observers have warned that these actions threaten not only diplomatic relations within the EAC but also the integrity of democratic processes in the region.
As of Sunday evening, the Tanzanian government had yet to issue an official statement explaining the decision to deny Karua and her colleagues entry.
The East Africa Law Society has also not responded publicly, but regional and international legal and human rights groups are expected to weigh in amid growing calls for transparency and accountability.
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