People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua has revealed she was denied entry into Tanzania upon arrival at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam. Karua, along with colleagues Prof. Ngugi and Dr. Kimani, was scheduled to attend a court session in support of Tanzanian opposition figure Tundu Lissu.
The trio, invited by the East Africa Law Society, was reportedly detained by immigration officials on Saturday morning, with no formal explanation given for the action. According to Karua, her passport was referred to a supervisor, who after a prolonged wait, denied her entry following consultations with higher authorities.
“I am concerned that as a citizen of @jumuiya, my access within a @jumuiya country appears inexplicably restricted,” Karua said, expressing dismay over the move which comes amid mounting scrutiny of political freedoms in Tanzania.
The leaders were en route to observe a key hearing involving Lissu, the Chadema party chairman, who was charged with treason on April 10 after a rally calling for electoral reforms. Karua has been vocal in demanding his release, terming the charges “politically motivated.”
The incident raises fresh concerns about regional cooperation and the treatment of pro-democracy voices within the East African Community. As the Monday hearing at the Kisutu courts approaches, pressure mounts on Tanzania’s government to uphold transparency and rule of law.
Karua and her team now face deportation, casting a shadow over regional legal collaboration and rights advocacy.
