Joy Shikwati
Tensions are rising in East Africa following the deportation of Kenya’s former Justice Minister and veteran politician Martha Karua from Tanzania. Karua, who is also a prominent opposition leader, was denied entry at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam on Sunday, May 18, 2025, and promptly sent back to Nairobi.
A Show of Solidarity
Karua had traveled to Tanzania to observe the treason trial of Tanzanian opposition figure Tundu Lissu, a case that has drawn considerable regional and international attention. She was accompanied by Kenyan human rights lawyer Gloria Kimani and activist Lynn Ngugi.
However, upon arrival, the group was reportedly held at the airport, interrogated for several hours, and then put on a return flight to Nairobi. No formal explanation has been issued by Tanzanian authorities regarding the deportation.
“I was simply there to show solidarity and witness due process being followed,” Karua said upon returning to Kenya. “What happened was not just a diplomatic slight—it’s a blow to democracy in our region.”
Crackdown on Opposition in Tanzania
The incident comes as Tundu Lissu, a leading figure in Tanzania’s opposition Chadema party, faces treason charges over a speech where he allegedly called for civil disobedience and election boycotts ahead of Tanzania’s general elections slated for October.
The Tanzanian government has also banned Chadema from participating in the elections, prompting strong reactions from civil society and political leaders both within and beyond its borders.
Human rights groups have labeled the charges politically motivated, warning of shrinking democratic space and rising authoritarianism in Tanzania.
Diplomatic Ripples
Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing’Oei, has since condemned the deportation, calling it a breach of East African Community (EAC) protocols that uphold free movement and mutual respect among member states.
“This move undermines the spirit of regional cooperation and integration under the EAC,” Sing’Oei stated.
A History of Advocacy
Martha Karua has long been an outspoken defender of democracy and the rule of law across East Africa. Beyond her service as Kenya’s justice minister, she has also legally represented regional opposition leaders such as Uganda’s Kizza Besigye, another political figure frequently targeted by his government.
Her latest experience in Tanzania, she says, signals a worrying trend.
“If democratic observers are being silenced and blocked at borders, we must ask ourselves what’s really happening behind closed doors,” she warned.
Looking Ahead
As the region gears up for multiple high-stakes elections, the deportation incident raises urgent questions about transparency, accountability, and the future of democratic engagement in East Africa.
Observers and watchdog groups are now closely monitoring both the outcome of Tundu Lissu’s trial and how Kenya-Tanzania relations evolve in the coming weeks.