Kenya's Former Justice Minister Detained Amid Opposition Leader's Court Hearings in Tanzania

Fri Jul 18 2025 04:19:27 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)
Kenya's Former Justice Minister Detained Amid Opposition Leader's Court Hearings in Tanzania

Prominent human rights lawyer Martha Karua reports detention in Tanzania while attending the trial of Tundu Lissu, raising concerns over political repression.


Martha Karua, former Justice Minister of Kenya, has been detained in Tanzania as she attended the court proceedings of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, sparking condemnation from human rights advocates and highlighting growing political tensions in the region.


Leading Kenyan attorney and former Justice Minister, Martha Karua, has been detained in Tanzania while participating in the court appearance of opposition figure Tundu Lissu. Karua announced her detention via social media, stating that she was held at Dar es Salaam's main airport and awaited deportation alongside two colleagues. As of now, Tanzanian authorities have not responded to the situation.

Lissu, the main opposition leader facing treason charges, is scheduled to appear in court on Monday. Karua, a prominent human rights advocate known for her critique of "democratic backsliding" in East Africa, has also represented Ugandan politician Kizza Besigye, who was forcibly returned to Uganda from Kenya last year on similar charges that he alleges are politically charged.

Karua served as Kenya's justice minister from 2005 to 2009 and recently established the People's Liberation Party. Her spokesperson shared that she underwent interrogation for three hours, after which her passport was confiscated.

The Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition has condemned the "arbitrary arrest" of Karua, her fellow lawyer Gloria Kimani, and human rights activist Lynn Ngugi, and they are seeking legal counsel to facilitate their release. Their unexpected detention is alarming, especially since Karua was previously granted entry to observe Lissu's court session in April.

As Tanzania approaches presidential elections in October, human rights organizations express rising concern over governmental oppression of opposition voices. Lissu, leader of the Chadema party, has been denied bail and is advocating for significant reforms in Tanzania’s electoral system, which he argues is not conducive to free and fair elections. Despite being barred from contesting in the upcoming polls due to alleged non-compliance with electoral regulations, Chadema continues to resist what it deems state-sanctioned suppression.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan, expected to be the ruling CCM party's presidential candidate, has received mixed reviews for her political reforms following John Magufuli's controversial rule. Critics claim that the oppressive tactics reminiscent of Magufuli's governance are again becoming prevalent despite earlier reforms aimed at increasing civil liberties. The Tanzanian government has refuted these allegations.

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