Former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, alongside Kenyan activists Hanifa Adan and Hussein Khalid, was reportedly detained and later deported after arriving at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Sunday.
The trio had traveled to Tanzania in what they described as a show of solidarity with local human rights defenders and lawyers. Their visit coincided with a court mention involving Tanzanian opposition figure Tundu Lissu.
According to Hussein Khalid, a human rights activist and lawyer, they were not provided with any official reason for their detention. Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Khalid wrote:
“We, @WMutunga, @Honeyfarsafi, and I, have been detained at Julius Nyerere Airport, Dar es Salaam, as we came in for the observance of @TunduALissu’s case. The trip was in solidarity with Tanzanian lawyers and human rights defenders. They have not given reasons for the detention.”
Hanifa Adan, a journalist and activist, also shared updates on social media, stating that they were being held without explanation.
“Hello guys. We’ve been detained at Julius Nyerere International Airport and we’re not being told why. It’s 3am, it’s cold, and this is utterly ridiculous and petty. I’m here with Willy Mutunga and Hussein Khalid. We came in solidarity with Tundu Lissu,” she posted.
She later confirmed that the group was being deported.
Earlier that day, Martha Karua, leader of the People’s Liberation Party, said she too had been denied entry into Tanzania and deported. She was accompanied by Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Council member Gloria Kimani and Pan-African Progressive Leaders Solidarity Network member Lynn Ngugi.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident back in Kenya, activist Boniface Mwangi claimed that police officers had shown up at his home. He declined to open the door and challenged them to break in if they intended to arrest him.
