Supporters of People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua have welcomed her with chants of solidarity upon her arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) from Tanzania.
Karua landed at 4:30 pm, following her deportation from the neighbouring country, after almost six hours of detention at Julius Nyerere International Airport.
“Never, never, never surrender,” the crowd welcoming her chanted.
Some of the supporters were lifting banners reading, “Welcome home, Senior Counsel Martha Karua”.
Amnesty Spokesperson Irungu Houghton was among those who received her.
Addressing the crowd, she said, “Citizens of East Africa, beware — our leaders are colluding to oppress us”.
Karua was detained alongside two attorneys at the airport in Dar es Salaam upon their arrival at 9 am.
“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,” Karua stated.
