Martha Karua, a prominent Kenyan lawyer and former Justice Minister, has reported her detention in Tanzania as she arrived to support opposition leader Tundu Lissu during his court appearance. In a recent social media update, Karua stated that she, along with two colleagues, was held at the main international airport in Dar es Salaam, awaiting deportation. Tanzanian officials have not yet issued a comment regarding the incident.
Background on Tundu Lissu’s legal troubles
Tundu Lissu, a notable figure in Tanzanian politics, is scheduled to face court on Monday following treason charges filed against him last month. Karua is well-known for her advocacy of human rights and has been vocal about what she perceives as a decline in democratic practices in East Africa.
In addition to her support for Lissu, Karua has previously represented Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who was forcibly returned to Uganda from Kenya to confront similar treason allegations. Both Lissu and Besigye dispute these charges, arguing they are driven by political motives.
Details of Karua’s detention
Karua served as Kenya’s Justice Minister from 2005 to 2009 and was a vice-presidential candidate for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in the 2022 elections. Earlier this year, she founded the People’s Liberation Party, signifying her continued commitment to political activism.
Her spokesperson revealed that Karua was interrogated for three hours after arriving in Tanzania, during which her passport was confiscated. She is now reportedly awaiting deportation alongside fellow Kenyan lawyer Gloria Kimani and human rights advocate Lynn Ngugi.
“The arbitrary arrest of the three individuals is concerning,” stated the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition, which condemned their detention and is mobilizing legal efforts for their release.
This situation arises amid growing apprehension among human rights organizations regarding escalating repression of opposition groups in Tanzania, particularly with presidential and parliamentary elections approaching in October.
Lissu, the leader of the Chadema party, has been unable to secure bail due to the seriousness of his treason charges, which carry a potential death sentence. He has previously survived an assassination attempt in 2017, where he was shot 16 times.
After being arrested in April for promoting a rally themed “No Reforms, No Election,” Lissu has called for significant electoral reforms, claiming that current laws obstruct the possibility of free and fair elections. The Tanzanian government has dismissed these allegations.
In a further complication, Lissu’s Chadema party has been barred from participating in the upcoming elections, following its refusal to adhere to the electoral commission’s demands, which include signing a controversial code of conduct. This code mandates parties to ensure peace and good behavior during elections, a requirement Chadema views as an attempt to stifle opposition.
The ruling CCM party, in power since 1977, is anticipated to maintain its dominance in the political landscape, with President Samia Suluhu Hassan as the expected candidate. Although she gained acclaim for expanding political freedoms upon her ascension to power in 2021, critics argue that her administration is reverting to the oppressive tactics reminiscent of her predecessor, John Magufuli, a claim the government refutes.