Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’Oei has said the Kenyan mission in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania is looking into the detention of People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua, at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Tanzania.
In a statement on his X account on Sunday, 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,” he said.
Karua was earlier denied entry into Tanzania.
She said the authorities planned to deport her back to Kenya, adding that her passport was confiscated upon arrival at the airport in Dar es Salaam.
Karua said immigration officials referred her passport to a supervisor, who kept her waiting for over an hour without explanation.
“I have been denied entry into Tanzania and I and two colleagues are awaiting deportation at Mwalimu Nyerere International Airport Dar es Salaam,” Karua said.
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).
“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.
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.
Several leaders have condemned the move, including former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi who questioned the relevance of the EAC if Kenyan lawyers can be barred from entering member states.
“What is the purpose of the East African Community if Martha Karua is denied entry into Tanzania to practice law, and is instead deported?” Havi posed
He called on President William Ruto to directly engage Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu on the matter.
"This is a matter that President William Ruto ought to take up with President Samia Suluhu,” Havi said.
