Law Society of Kenya (LSK) member Faith Odhiambo has expressed concern over the detention of Kenyan lawyers, including People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua, at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Tanzania.
Karua said on May 18, 2025, that she was denied entry into Tanzania and that authorities planned to deport her back to Kenya. She said her passport was confiscated upon arrival at the airport in Dar es Salaam.
“I have been denied entry into Tanzania and I and two colleagues are awaiting deportation at Mwalimu Nyerere International Airport Dar es Salaam,” Karua posted on her verified X account.
She added that she was being held alongside fellow human rights defenders and lawyers Lynn Ngugi and Gloria Kimani.
Karua said immigration officials referred her passport to a supervisor, who kept her waiting for over an hour without explanation.
“I arrived at Dar es Salaam, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Airport at 9 a.m., and immigration referred my passport to the supervisor, who kept me waiting for an hour as she consulted her superiors,” she said.
Karua said she was concerned about the restriction on her movement within the East African Community (EAC).
“I am concerned that, as a citizen of Jumuiya, my access within the East African Community (EAC) appears inexplicably restricted,” she said.
She also noted that Ngugi and Kimani were being held with her, all guests of the East Africa Law Society (EALS) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).
Karua claimed their denial of entry was linked to their interest in the politically sensitive case of detained Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who faces treason charges.
“The common thread between Gloria Kimani, a council member of LSK, and Lynn Ngugi is that we are guests of EALS. I suspect all visitors who may be interested in the politically motivated case against Tundu Lissu are being denied entry,” she stated.
Reacting to the situation, LSK member Faith Odhiambo said: “This is quite unfortunate that though we should be enjoying free movement of persons within the East African region, Kenyans can be detained for merely being lawyers. I hope @SingoeiAKorir can urgently intervene.”
