By Africalivenews Editorial Team
Nairobi, Kenya — Prominent Kenyan lawyer and former presidential candidate Martha Karua has condemned Tanzanian authorities after being forcibly expelled from the country while attempting to observe the high-profile treason trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
Karua, a fierce advocate for democratic values and former Minister of Justice in Kenya, said she traveled to Tanzania to witness what she described as a “critical moment” in East Africa’s democratic development. However, upon arrival, she said she was denied entry and deported without explanation.
“My expulsion from Tanzania is not just about me — it speaks volumes about the state of governance under President Samia Suluhu Hassan,” Karua said in a statement issued on Monday. “When observers are turned away, it casts a long shadow on the integrity of the trial process.”
Karua, who ran in Kenya’s 2022 general election as the running mate of opposition leader Raila Odinga, said she was traveling in her personal capacity as a human rights lawyer and regional democratic advocate. Her target was to monitor the court proceedings against Tundu Lissu, the firebrand politician and vice-chairman of the Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) opposition party, who is facing charges that could carry the death penalty under Tanzanian law.
Lissu’s trial has drawn widespread criticism across Africa and beyond, with growing concerns over political persecution, the shrinking civic space, and an increasingly autocratic atmosphere under President Hassan’s government.
Chadema Disqualified from Elections
The political tension in Tanzania intensified earlier this month after the country’s electoral commission disqualified the Chadema party from participating in the upcoming October presidential and legislative elections. The commission cited the party’s refusal to sign an electoral code of conduct as the reason for its exclusion, a move Chadema leaders have decried as “blatant political repression.”
“This is not about legal technicalities. This is about silencing dissent and eliminating democratic competition,” Karua argued. “By blocking opposition voices and preventing neutral observers from attending trials, Tanzania is experiencing a total erosion of democratic principles.”
Karua has long been a vocal critic of what she terms “democratic backsliding” in East Africa. She previously raised concerns over the misuse of state power in Uganda, Ethiopia, and now Tanzania, where the legacy of late President John Magufuli still looms large over current governance strategies.
Who Is Tundu Lissu?
Tundu Lissu, a respected lawyer and former Member of Parliament, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in 2017 in what many human rights organizations suspect was a politically motivated attack. After recovering abroad, Lissu returned to Tanzania in 2020 and contested the presidency against Magufuli, garnering substantial public support.
His arrest on treason charges — reportedly linked to his continued criticism of government corruption and electoral manipulation — has triggered alarm among rights groups, legal professionals, and international observers.
The Tanzanian government has maintained that the charges are lawful and not politically driven. But critics say Lissu’s detention is meant to intimidate other opposition leaders and discourage voter participation ahead of a tightly controlled election.
Regional Implications
Karua’s expulsion from Tanzania is likely to further strain diplomatic relations within the East African Community (EAC), a regional bloc often championed as a model of economic cooperation and democratic values.
“Instead of fostering integration and good governance, we are witnessing countries shutting their doors to transparency,” said Dr. John Mwangi, a political analyst at the University of Nairobi. “Expelling a well-known figure like Karua is a calculated message — Tanzania is asserting that it will not tolerate external scrutiny.”
Human rights organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have already issued calls for an impartial and transparent trial for Lissu. Meanwhile, social media in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania is abuzz with the hashtag #FreeTunduLissu, with many expressing shock over Karua’s treatment and Lissu’s prolonged legal battles.
Karua Urges International Attention
Calling for increased international pressure on the Tanzanian government, Karua warned that silence from regional institutions such as the African Union (AU) and EAC could embolden more governments to adopt authoritarian tactics.
“The world must not look away while democracy is being strangled in Tanzania. Leaders and institutions have a moral responsibility to speak out and act,” she said.
Karua also highlighted the irony of being blocked from a trial that should, in principle, be public.
“What does it say about the fairness of a trial if human rights defenders and legal observers are not allowed to attend?” she questioned.
No Official Statement from Tanzania
As of press time, the Tanzanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not issued an official statement regarding Karua’s expulsion. Similarly, efforts to obtain a comment from the Tanzanian Judiciary on the transparency of Lissu’s trial were unsuccessful.
However, a senior Tanzanian government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, defended the deportation, stating:
“We have every right to determine who enters our territory. Political provocateurs, even from neighboring countries, must respect our laws.”
What Comes Next?
With elections approaching and opposition voices being silenced, Tanzania is entering a politically sensitive period. Observers warn that the government’s approach may trigger both domestic unrest and regional fallout.
For Karua, the struggle for democratic space continues.
“I may have been sent away from Tanzania, but I will not be silenced. The fight for justice, freedom, and accountable governance is a continental duty,” she declared.
As pressure mounts on Tanzanian authorities, all eyes are now on the trial of Tundu Lissu — a legal battle that may define the country’s democratic future.
