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Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has condemned Tanzania’s deportation of Martha Karua, leader of Kenya’s People’s Liberation Party (PLP), calling it a dangerous blow to democracy and a setback for East African Community (EAC) unity.
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Speaking at the consecration of Canon Patrick Kyalo Munuve as Bishop at ACK Cathedral in Machakos, Kalonzo warned of growing authoritarianism in the region.
He also criticized Kenya’s Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), accusing it of being used to target county leaders and political opponents of President William Ruto’s administration.
“Deporting Martha Karua undermines democratic values, regional openness, and mutual respect among EAC states,” said Kalonzo.
Karua, a former Justice Minister and senior counsel, revealed she was denied entry into Tanzania and returned to Nairobi on Sunday. She was accompanied by Gloria Kimani of the Law Society of Kenya and Lynn Ngugi of the Pan-African Progressive Leaders Solidarity Network.
The trio had been invited by the East Africa Law Society to observe court proceedings involving Tanzanian opposition figure Tundu Lissu, who faces treason charges.
Karua posted on X (formerly Twitter) that immigration officials flagged her passport at Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport, and after prolonged consultation, she was denied entry and flown back to Nairobi.
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She attributed the deportation to her public support for Lissu, who was arrested in April after calling for electoral reforms. Karua and her team were scheduled to attend a hearing at Kisutu Magistrates’ Court on May 19.
“As a citizen of the East African Community, I’m troubled that my access to a fellow member state is being restricted without reason,” she said.
The PLP issued a scathing statement condemning the deportation as a violation of EAC protocols and a disregard for human rights. The party accused Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu’s government of suppressing democratic oversight and entrenching authoritarianism.
Amnesty International Kenya’s Executive Director Irũngũ Houghton also criticized the move, saying it undermines civil liberties and public confidence in Tanzania’s justice system.
The Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) expressed outrage, calling the deportation a breach of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. PALU demanded an apology from Tanzania and assurances that Karua and her colleagues could participate in future legal missions without interference.
PALU noted that Karua previously observed Lissu’s court case in May 2024 without any restrictions.
The incident may escalate diplomatic tensions in the region and raise concerns over member states’ adherence to EAC democratic principles.
