Kenya's Martha Karua deported from Tanzania amid opposition leader’s trial

Prominent Kenyan lawyer and former Justice Minister Martha Karua says she has been deported from Tanzania to block her from attending the legal proceedings of opposition figure Tundu Lissu, who faces treason charges.

Karua, a long-standing human rights advocate and political critic, traveled to Tanzania with two colleagues—lawyer Gloria Kimani and activist Lynn Ngugi—to observe Lissu’s upcoming court appearance. All three were reportedly subjected to extended interrogation before being expelled from the country. Tanzanian authorities have not yet issued an official statement on the incident.

Lissu, leader of the Chadema opposition party, is expected in court on Monday to face treason charges—an offense in Tanzania punishable by death. His arrest in April followed a political rally under the banner “No Reforms, No Election,” where he called for electoral reforms, claiming the current system does not guarantee fair democratic processes.

Karua, who served as Kenya’s justice minister between 2005 and 2009, has been outspoken about shrinking democratic space in East Africa. She also represents Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who was abducted in Kenya and returned to Uganda to face politically charged treason allegations.

Earlier this year, Karua launched her own political party—the People’s Liberation Party (PLP)—which confirmed her deportation in a statement, accusing Tanzanian authorities of “unjustified interrogation and intimidation.”

The PLP criticized the treatment of its delegation and described the incident as an affront to legal observers and democratic oversight in the region.

John Mnyika, Chadema’s Secretary-General, condemned the deportations, stating: “Detaining foreign lawyers won't erase the injustice of this treason case. The charges should simply be dropped.”

The Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition also expressed dismay over the incident, noting that Karua had previously been allowed entry to observe Lissu’s hearing on April 15, making the current action particularly troubling.

Concerns are mounting among rights groups about a renewed clampdown on the opposition ahead of Tanzania’s October 2025 general elections. The Chadema party has already been barred from participating, following its refusal to sign a controversial code of conduct demanded by the electoral commission. The party argues the code is a tool for silencing dissent.

Lissu’s detention comes years after he survived a 2017 assassination attempt, during which he was shot 16 times. He has consistently maintained his innocence, asserting that the charges are politically motivated.

Meanwhile, the ruling CCM party, in power since 1977, is set to field President Samia Suluhu Hassan as its presidential candidate. Though initially praised for easing political tensions after the death of former President John Magufuli in 2021, critics say the country is once again sliding toward authoritarianism—an accusation the government denies.