The detention and subsequent deportation from Tanzania of People's Liberation Party (PLP) leader, Martha Karua, on Sunday marked the latest harassment she has endured in the hands of neighbouring countries’ authorities in her quest for justice.
Known for her tireless efforts to defend the rights of opposition leaders against attempts by oppressive authorities, Ms Karua, who recently faced-off with Uganda President Yoweri Museveni's regime, once again found herself rubbing President Samia Suluhu administration's the wrong way.
When Ms Karua, together with Gloria Kimani, a council member of the Law Society of Kenya, and Lyn Ngugi landed at Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) on Sunday morning, they faced delay in clearance.
Karua: I've been blocked from entering Tanzania, this is why
The former Justice Minister stated that without being briefed, the immigration officer at the airport referred her passport to the supervisor, who also kept them waiting for about an hour as she consulted her superiors as to whether they should be cleared and allowed to proceed to their destination.
The three were detained at the airport, and the next statement from the officer was that they are being deported.
“The supervisor has now informed us that our entry to Tanzania has been denied, no reasons given…. The common thread that binds us is that we are all guests of East Africa Law Society (EALS). I am concerned that as a citizen of the East African Community, my access within the East African Community country appears inexplicably restricted,” Ms Karua said as she protested through social media platforms.
She alleged that the move appears as the effort from the Tanzanian government to stop observers from attending the hearing of a case involving Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who will be arraigned on Monday.
People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi on arrival from Tanzania where she was denied entry on May 18, 2025.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
“There is fear in this government of our dear Mama Samia Suluhu about people who may be politically motivated against Tundu Lissu,” Ms Karua said.
Mr Lissu is expected to be arraigned physically on Monday, May 19, where he is facing charges against spreading false information with the intention of causing civil disobedience against the government.
It is not the first time that Ms Karua has had a run-in with authorities from the neighbouring counties.
Last year, Ms Karua became a regional talking point when she took on the government of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda.
She was in Uganda as the lead lawyer defending opposition politician, Dr Kizza Besigye, who had been abducted in Kenya, where he was attending an event.
People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi on arrival from Tanzania where she was denied entry on May 18, 2025.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
Ms Karua came out and complained that the Uganda Law Council had rejected her application to practice as Dr Besigye’s lawyer, even after meeting all the requirements.
“Rather than use these as reasons to decline my application, one would expect that the law council would have asked for whatever additional documents that it desired… your disparaging and personalised aspersions on my person and character, as well as the importation of extraneous matters, is regrettable and undermines the spirit of Jumuiya,” she said, adding that the Ugandan Law Council had said that her nationality documents and academic qualifications were not attached to her application.
In her relentless spirit, she kept pushing for her practicing license, taking on the Ugandan Law Council and the ruling regime, saying that she had been duly mentioned before the court by one of Besigye’s lawyers, Erias Lukwago.
“It was on this basis that an adjournment was granted to the 10th of December. In the light of these facts, I take great exception to this unmerited accusation by yourselves which constitutes an attack on my character and integrity, and undermines the appearance of impartiality of the law council,” Ms Karua said.
The Ugandan Law Council succumbed to her fight, and on January 6, she got a temporary practicing certificate on Ugandan jurisdiction, which allowed her to lead a team of 50 lawyers in the battle to release Dr Besigye.
The two are being accused of being in possession of illegal firearms, which the Ugandan government said possess a security threat to the nation.
