Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua, Ugandan activist and journalist Agather Atuhaire and Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi have all pledged to stand with CHADEMA chairman Tundu Lissu in his ongoing treason trial in Tanzania.

The three confirmed through public statements on X, formerly Twitter, that they are ready to testify for Lissu after he listed them among his defense witnesses earlier this week.

Karua said she was “ready and willing” to take the witness stand if called. Atuhaire stressed that Lissu’s trial is not just about one person but reflects the wider struggle for justice in the region. Mwangi, a longtime critic of repression, said his solidarity with Lissu is firm and that he is prepared to testify.

The trial, which has entered its sixth month, has attracted international attention and criticism. Human rights groups and the European Parliament have condemned the charges, calling for Lissu’s release and for Tanzania to uphold democratic rights.

Lissu was arrested in April in Mbinga after a public rally and is facing treason charges, an offense that carries the death penalty under Tanzanian law.