By Nyang’au Araka
Kenyan advocate and politician Martha Karua has been told to keep off Tanzania’s political and judicial affairs, and sort the mess in her country first.
Tanzania’s ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM)’s vice chaiperson, Stephen Wasira said that Karua, who got arrested and detained at Nyerere International Airport that Kenya has not run short of challenges for her to solve.
“If she can solve problems, let her solve those in Kenya first,” Wasira who appeared to have issues with Karua’s blend of politics and lawyering said while addressing a gathering in Dodoma.
In a video published by Tanzania’s Swahili Times, Wasira said if Karua may also be useful in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which is in conflict with Rwanda, or South Sudan.
“She can also go back to Kenya and liberate her People’s Democratic Party whose policies we don’t even know,” Wasira said amid applause, adding that Karua cannot school CCM on democracy.
Karua and her advocate colleagues Gloria Kimani, and Lyn Ngugi were arrested and detained by Tanzanian authorities shortly after they set foot at the airport.
Their arrest and detention on Sunday sparked outrage from across the region.
Bitter responses
In a number of posts on X, Karua indicated that their visit to Tanzania had run into headwinds with authorities saying access had been denied.
“The supervisor has now informed us that our entry too Tanzania has been denied no reasons given to East African Law Society (EALS) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK),” Karua said.
The visit of the trio was for the purpose of conducting trial observation in the ongoing case involving advocate and politician Tundu Lissu.
Lissu is the chairperson of the main opposition party, CHADEMA.
The Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) has already condemned the “arbitrary arrest and detention” of the three Kenyans.
“THRDC has received credible reports confirming that the three advocates were detained shortly after landing,” the agency said in a statement.
“We are deeply shocked and disturbed by this incident, especially given that this is not the first time Advocate Martha Karua has participated in observing proceedings in this matter.”
No stranger in Tanzanian courts
On 24th April 2025, she appeared in court for the same purpose without any interference from authorities.
“The right to observe public trials is a recognized component of a fair and transparent judicial process, as enshrined in both domestic law and international human rights instruments,” THRDC said in their statement.
The statement added that in collaboration with the East African Law Society (EALS), is actively following up on this matter.
“We have instructed Advocate Hekima Mwasipu to pursue all necessary legal steps to secure the immediate and unconditional release of the detained advocates.”
Further, THRDC urged relevant airport and immigration authorities to act with urgency and in accordance with the law by releasing the Kenyans.
“Their presence in Tanzania for a lawful, professional, and internationally recognized function should be respected,” the statement said.
The arrest has drawn reactions from both Kenya and Tanzania, with Kenyan lawyer Nelson Havi saying on X: “What is the purpose of the East African Community if Martha Karua is denied entry into Tanzania to practice law, and is instead deported?”
Boniface Mwabukusi who is the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS) President also issued a statement condemning the arrest.
“We wish to remind the authorities that this country is governed by the rule of law and its Constitution, and there is no legal prohibition against anyone attending public court proceedings concerning the charges faced by Advocate Tundu Antipas Lissu,” Mwabukusi said in a statement posted on X.