Martha Karua, pictured during a previous visit to East Africa. Photo/Courtesy

Karua Detained Without Explanation

Kenyan opposition figure and People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua was on Sunday, May 18, held at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Tanzania under unclear circumstances.

Karua said immigration officers seized her passport and withheld her entry without providing reasons. She had traveled with lawyer Gloria Kimani and journalist Lynn Ngugi.

East African Protocol Concerns Raised

“I am concerned that as a citizen of the East African Community (EAC), I am being denied entry without explanation,” Karua said after being held for over an hour.

Despite being a regional partner under the EAC, Tanzania authorities reportedly failed to explain why her travel documents were confiscated or why she was detained.

Purpose of Visit: Monitoring Tundu Lissu’s Trial

Karua and her delegation were in Tanzania to observe an ongoing legal case involving opposition leader Tundu Lissu, chairperson of CHADEMA.

According to the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC), Karua had previously attended court proceedings related to Lissu’s case without interference.

“This detention is deeply disturbing, especially since Karua observed the same case in April 2025 without issue,” THRDC stated.

Call for Immediate Release

The coalition urged authorities to release Karua and her colleagues and allow them to carry out their lawful mission of court monitoring.

“Their presence for a legitimate and internationally recognized function must be respected,” THRDC said in a press statement.

Previous Incident in Uganda

This is not Karua’s first encounter with travel-related issues in East Africa. In January, she was initially barred from representing Uganda’s opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who had been deported from Nairobi and later charged with treason.

Karua eventually secured permission to represent Besigye in the Ugandan court martial after appealing for her legal accreditation.

As of now, it remains unclear whether Karua and her team have been released or allowed into the country. The Tanzanian government has not issued an official statement.

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