On Sunday, May 18, 2025, Martha Karua posted a video on her X platform, formerly Twitter, featuring herself and two other women: Gloria Kimani (Lawyer) and another human rights activist named Lynn Ngugi. In the video, they claimed they were arrested at the airport.
This incident follows the case brought by Samia Suluhu’s government against opposition leader Tundu Lissu. Martha Karua, along with other East African lawyers, was set to represent Tundu Lissu during the mention of the case. These lawyers had expressed interest in defending Tundu Lissu.
In the video on X, Martha Karua claimed that they were being deported and had been arrested. She stated they were being denied entry into Tanzania and remarked that the late Mwalimu Nyerere would not have allowed such actions if he were alive. She emphasized that Tanzania is a home for all East Africans and a place of political asylum for all seekers.
The United Republic of Tanzania did not to take action. They did not grant her entry, they deported her alongside her colleagues back to Kenya in a KQ flight as she indicated in her X post later on. However, human rights activists and groups are voicing their opposition, calling the action irresponsible and dictatorial.
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It’s concerning to see such actions against human rights advocates in Tanzania. Martha Karua and her colleagues were simply trying to represent a client, and denying them entry raises serious questions about justice and political freedom. Claiming that Tanzania is a home for all East Africans while deporting respected lawyers seems contradictory. The reference to Mwalimu Nyerere adds weight to the argument, as his legacy was about unity and fairness. Human rights activists opposing this decision are right to question its motives. Why hasn’t Tanzanian leadership addressed these allegations transparently? What does this mean for the future of political asylum in East Africa? It’s hard to ignore the implications of such actions on regional unity and trust. What’s your take on this? Shouldn’t there be more accountability in handling such cases?