People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua has
announced that she is on her way back to Kenya after almost six hours of
detention at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Tanzania.
In a statement on her X account on Sunday, Karua said her
deportation had been completed.
“Deportation
complete! On board KQ flight No 485 for Nairobi,” she tweeted.
Earlier on, Karua
said she was detained alongside two attorneys at the airport, upon their
arrival at 9am.
“I arrived at Dar es Salaam, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere
International Airport at 9 am, and immigration referred my passport to the
supervisor, who kept me waiting for an hour as she consulted her superiors,”
she said.
“I have been denied entry into Tanzania and I and two
colleagues are awaiting deportation at Mwalimu Nyerere International Airport
Dar es Salaam.”
She said she was being held alongside fellow human rights
defenders and lawyers Lynn Ngugi and Gloria Kimani, all guests of the East
Africa Law Society (EALS) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).
Karua said she was concerned about the restriction on her
movement within the East African Community (EAC).
“I am concerned that, as a citizen of Jumuiya, my access
within the East African Community (EAC) appears inexplicably restricted,” she
said.
Karua claimed their denial of entry was linked to their
interest in the politically sensitive case of detained Tanzanian opposition
leader Tundu Lissu, who faces treason charges.
“The common thread between Gloria Kimani, a council member
of LSK, and Lynn Ngugi is that we are guests of EALS. I suspect all visitors
who may be interested in the politically motivated case against Tundu Lissu are
being denied entry,” she stated.
Her statement came shortly after Principal Secretary for
Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’Oei said the Kenyan mission in Dar es Salaam,
Tanzania was looking into the detention.
Sing’Oei said the mission, headed by High Coommissioner of
Kenya to Tanzania Isaac Njenga will apprise on the matter shortly.
“Our Mission in Dar es Salaam has reached out to relevant
authorities in the United Republic of Tanzania and will be apprising further on
the matter shortly,” the PS said.
