Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’Oei has asked the Tanzanian government to release former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and two Kenyan activists detained at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam.
Mutunga is detained alongside activists Hanifa Adan and Hussein Khalid.
In a statement, Sing’Oei cited the East African Community (EAC) treaty as he called for their release.
“We strongly urge the authorities in Tanzania to release the former Chief Justice of Kenya and his delegation consistent with the norms of the East African Community,” he said.
In a series of tweets on Monday, Hanifa said they have been detained without explanation, and left in the cold since 2am.
“This is utterly ridiculous and petty. It’s 3 am and it’s cold here damn. I’m here with Willy Mutunga and Hussein Khalid. We all travelled in solidarity with Tundu Lissu, who has a mention in court today,” she said.
Narrating their ordeal, Hanifa said, “the terminals are deserted, the floors are cold, and we’re hungry”.
She added that they had been left stranded, questioning what President Samia Suluhu was so afraid of, to detain Kenyans following up on Lissu’s court proceedings.
In a separate post, Khalid, a human rights activist and lawyer, said the trip was “in solidarity with Tanzanian lawyers and human rights defenders”.
“We, Willy Mutunga, Hanifa and I, have been detained at Julius Nyerere Airport, Dar es Salaam, as we came in for the observance of Tundu Lissu’s case. The trip was in solidarity with Tanzanian lawyers and human rights defenders. They have not given reasons for the detention,” he tweeted.
This comes after People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua was detained at the same airport on Sunday from 9am.
Karua was detained alongside fellow human rights defenders and lawyers Lynn Ngugi and Gloria Kimani, all guests of the East Africa Law Society (EALS) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).
Then, 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.
The Senior Counsel said 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 said.
Six hours later, Karua was deported back to Nairobi.
