Kenyan politician and former justice minister Martha Karua was reportedly detained at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. According to her spokesperson, Karua was questioned for three hours, had her passport confiscated, and is currently awaiting deportation.
Karua was in Tanzania representing opposition figure Tundu Lissu, who is facing treason charges ahead of the country’s general elections scheduled for October. Lissu is expected to appear in court on Monday. If convicted, he could face severe penalties under Tanzanian law.
Karua has been vocal about democratic concerns in East Africa. In addition to representing Lissu, she has also acted as a legal representative for Ugandan opposition politician Kizza Besigye, who was reportedly taken from Kenya to Uganda last year to answer similar treason charges. Uganda heads to the polls in January.
Speaking to AFP earlier this month, Karua expressed concerns over what she described as a decline in democratic governance across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. “There appears to be a growing pattern of actions targeting opposition figures across the region,” she said.
Karua recently launched the People’s Liberation Party and announced her intentions to engage more directly with the youth as she eyes a presidential bid in Kenya’s 2027 elections. She is expected to face strong competition from other opposition figures, many of whom have criticized the current administration led by President William Ruto.
In 2022, Karua was the running mate to opposition leader Raila Odinga, who lost the presidential race to Ruto. Speaking on the current state of affairs in Kenya, Karua claimed the country is facing serious governance challenges, citing reports of abductions, arbitrary arrests, and unresolved cases of missing persons.
Human rights groups reported that at least 60 people lost their lives during protests in June and July last year. More than 80 individuals were allegedly taken by security forces, with several still unaccounted for. However, the police have denied any involvement in these incidents.
President Ruto recently addressed the issue, stating that those who were detained have since been reunited with their families. He also assured the public that such actions would not be repeated, emphasizing that the rule of law must prevail.
In neighboring Tanzania, Lissu’s party Chadema was disqualified from participating in the upcoming elections after refusing to sign the national electoral code of conduct. The party had called for reforms and raised concerns over the political environment.
Meanwhile, in Uganda, recent statements by army commander Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of President Yoweri Museveni, stirred public debate. In a message posted on social media, Kainerugaba appeared to issue a warning to voters who did not support the ruling party. His comments sparked concern among civil society groups regarding the political atmosphere ahead of the elections.
