Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has strongly condemned the detention of Kenyan politician Martha Karua in Tanzania, terming the incident as “demeaning, unnecessary and a violation of rights.” The People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader was denied entry into the country upon arrival at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam on May 18, 2025.
According to Karua, Tanzanian immigration authorities confiscated her passport and detained her alongside fellow Kenyan human rights defenders Lynn Ngugi and Gloria Kimani. The trio, who were in the country as guests of the East Africa Law Society (EALS) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), were reportedly awaiting deportation back to Nairobi.
“I arrived at Dar es Salaam at 9 a.m., and immigration referred my passport to the supervisor, who kept me waiting for an hour as she consulted her superiors,” Karua posted on her verified X account. She added that no explanation was given for the delay or denial of entry.
Karua expressed concern over what she described as a worrying trend of restricted movement within the East African Community (EAC), stating, “As a citizen of Jumuiya, my access within the EAC appears inexplicably restricted.”
Babu Owino called on Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu to uphold the rights and dignity of visiting East Africans. “It is very worrying to mistreat Kenyans when they come to Tanzania,” the outspoken MP said. “Detaining Martha Karua is a clear violation of her rights and an affront to diplomatic norms.”
Karua suggested the refusal to grant them entry was politically motivated, linked to their interest in the case of detained Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who currently faces treason charges. “I suspect all visitors who may be interested in the politically motivated case against Tundu Lissu are being denied entry,” she said.
The incident has sparked outrage among civil society groups in both Kenya and Tanzania, who are now calling for regional bodies such as the EAC to intervene and protect the rights of citizens traveling within the bloc.
