The East Africa Law Society (EALS) has called on Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu to intervene following the alleged detention and denial of entry of Kenyan politician Martha Karua and two other Kenyans at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on May 18, 2025, EALS President Ramah Abubakar confirmed the organization had dispatched representatives to the airport to assess the situation and assist the affected individuals. He urged President Suluhu to uphold the principles of the East African Community (EAC), which guarantees the free movement of citizens across member states.
“We have dispatched our representatives to assist and assess the situation. I am imploring President Samia Suluhu to intervene and allow entry in the spirit and letter of the EAC Treaty on the freedom of movement of all East Africans,” Abubakar stated.
Karua, a prominent Kenyan lawyer and leader of the People’s Liberation Party (PLP), revealed via her verified X account that she had been denied entry into Tanzania upon arrival and was being held alongside human rights defenders Lynn Ngugi and Gloria Kimani. The three had reportedly travelled as official guests of the EALS and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).
“I have been denied entry into Tanzania, and I, along with two colleagues, am awaiting deportation at Mwalimu Nyerere International Airport, Dar es Salaam,” Karua posted, adding that her passport had been confiscated and handed to a supervisor without explanation.
She expressed concern over the restriction, noting that it undermines the spirit of the East African Community. “As a citizen of Jumuiya, my access within the EAC appears inexplicably restricted,” she wrote.
Karua, a staunch advocate for democracy and human rights, said the visit was meant to show solidarity with detained Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is currently facing treason charges. She suggested that their interest in Lissu’s politically sensitive case could be the reason behind the refusal of entry.
EALS has pledged to issue a more comprehensive statement on the matter as it continues to monitor the situation.
