Karua, Lawyers Detained, Await Deportation in Tanzania

Martha Karua, a prominent Kenyan lawyer and former justice minister, along with Gloria Kimani and Lynn Ngugi, was detained and denied entry by Tanzanian authorities at Julius Nyerere International Airport while en route to observe the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who faces the death penalty if convicted. The three had been invited by the East Africa Law Society and are currently awaiting deportation after hours of questioning and passport confiscation, without explanation from Tanzanian officials. Human rights organizations, including the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition, have condemned the detention as arbitrary and a violation of regional and international norms. The incident has intensified criticism of Tanzania's democratic backsliding and erosion of civil liberties in East Africa. Karua, known for her advocacy on regional democracy, linked the actions to coordinated efforts to suppress opposition ahead of upcoming elections. Legal and civil society groups continue to demand respect for free movement and legal representation within the East African Community.