Kenyan politician and lawyer Martha Karua, along with human rights defenders Lynn Ngugi and Gloria Kimani, has been deported from Tanzania. The trio was detained earlier on Sunday May 18th 2025, at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam as they arrived to observe the court case of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is facing treason charges.
Karua confirmed the deportation on social media, sharing on X, “Deportation complete! On board @KQSupport flight No 485 for Nairobi.” The group had been invited by the East African Law Society to monitor the high-profile case involving Tundu Lissu, a prominent opposition figure in Tanzania and the chai of CHADEMA.
This incident has raised concerns about freedom of movement and the right to legal representation in East Africa.
Many have expressed their support online, urging Tanzanian authorities to uphold the principles of free movement within the East African Community and allow international observers to perform their duties without obstruction.
