Kenya's ex-justice minister 'deported' from Tanzania

Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua, a former Justice Minister, has been deported from Tanzania. She claims this was done to prevent her from attending opposition leader Tundu Lissu's court case.

Two colleagues who traveled with her were also detained and deported. They flew in from Kenya for the same reason.

Former Kenyan chief justice Willy Mutunga and other rights activists faced similar issues. They were stopped at the airport when they arrived for Lissu's case. Tanzanian authorities have not commented on these incidents.

Lissu is the leader of Tanzania's main opposition party, Chadema. He is appearing in court on Monday after being charged with treason last month.

Kenya's foreign affairs official Korir Sing'oei urged Tanzania to release Mutunga and his team.

Karua is known as a human rights advocate and criticizes "democratic backsliding" in East Africa. She represents Ugandan politician Kizza Besigye, who faces treason charges he denies.

Karua served as Kenya’s justice minister from 2005 to 2009. She was also Raila Odinga's running mate in the 2022 presidential elections.

Earlier this year, she launched her own party, the People's Liberation Party (PLP). The PLP reported that Karua and her colleagues faced hours of unwarranted interrogation before their deportation.

Chadema general secretary John Mnyika condemned the incident. He stated that detaining foreign lawyers does not solve the issue of a false treason case.

The Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition expressed shock at what they called "arbitrary arrests." They noted that Karua had previously been allowed into Tanzania for Lissu’s court appearance on April 15.

Mutunga traveled with lawyer Hussein Khalid and activist Hanifa Adan, who organized youth-led protests last year. Khalid shared a video on X showing them at Dar es Salaam airport after their passports were taken.

Adan described their detention as ridiculous and petty, emphasizing their solidarity with Lissu during his court mention.

Activist Boniface Mwangi reported armed men claiming to be police visited his hotel room Sunday night. He refused to open the door until they identified themselves.

Mwangi stated he would wait for Tanzanian lawyers before leaving but was ready to go if needed.

Human rights groups are increasingly worried about opposition crackdowns in Tanzania ahead of October elections.

Lissu cannot seek bail due to his treason charge, which carries a maximum death sentence. He survived an assassination attempt in 2017 after being shot multiple times.

He was arrested in April after holding a rally demanding electoral reforms under the slogan "No Reforms, No Election." The government denies allegations of unfair election laws.

Since Lissu's arrest, Chadema has been barred from contesting in October elections due to non-compliance with an electoral commission code of conduct requirement.

This document demands parties maintain peace during elections but is seen by Chadema as a tool for state repression against opposition parties.

The ruling CCM party has governed Tanzania since 1977 and is expected to retain power amid these developments. President Samia Suluhu Hassan is anticipated to be its presidential candidate.

She received praise for increasing political freedom upon taking office in 2021 but faces criticism for returning to repressive tactics reminiscent of former president John Magufuli’s rule. The government denies these claims.