The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Nelson Koech, Chair of the National Assembly’s Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations Committee, has responded to Tanzania’s decision to deny entry to Martha Karua, leader of the People’s Liberation Party (PLP).
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In a Monday interview on Citizen TV, Koech acknowledged that while Tanzania was within its sovereign rights to restrict entry, the decision potentially contradicts the East African Community (EAC) Treaty, which promotes free movement among member states.
“Every country has the discretion to accept or deny entry to foreign nationals. If Tanzania determined that Karua should not be allowed in, they have that right, likely based on specific reasons,” Koech stated.
He noted that only Karua’s account of the incident is publicly available and emphasized the lack of an official explanation from Tanzanian authorities regarding her detention and deportation.
Koech further suggested that Karua should turn her attention back to domestic affairs in Kenya, pointing out that this is not the first time she has encountered diplomatic challenges in the region, referencing her previous legal issues in Uganda.
“There are many capable lawyers in Tanzania. Karua is not the only one who can support political detainees,” he remarked. “She should consider if there’s a pattern of concern from these countries about her involvement.”
Koech questioned Karua’s consistent involvement in legal matters across the EAC, implying that there may be valid reasons behind her treatment by Tanzanian officials. While expressing sympathy over her experience, he reiterated that Tanzania was acting within its jurisdiction.
He also reiterated that such actions contradict the EAC’s principles of regional integration, including the free movement of people and trade.
On Sunday, Karua reported she had been held at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam alongside lawyers Lynn Ngugi and Gloria Kimani. The three had arrived as guests of the East Africa Law Society (EALS) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).
Karua said immigration officials referred her passport to a supervisor, who kept her waiting for over an hour before informing them they would be deported.
Expressing her disappointment, Karua highlighted that as a citizen of the East African Community, she found the travel restrictions troubling and unjustified.
She attributed their denial of entry to their interest in the ongoing case against Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who faces treason charges. Karua suspected that visitors associated with the case were being deliberately barred from the country.
