Senior Counsel Martha Karua has disclosed that she is being denied entry into the neighbouring Tanzania alongside other human rights defenders and lawyers, Lynn Ngugi and Gloria Kimani.
Taking to social media, Karua claimed that her passport had been taken and referred to a supervisor at the Julius Nyerere International Airport, and she had been held for over an hour.
The lawyer added she was unaware why she was receiving such treatment, despite being a prominent Kenyan who is a member of the East African Community (EAC).
Martha Karua, two Kenyan lawyers Detained in Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere International airport. Photo: Courtesy.
“I arrived at Dar es Salaam Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International airport at nine am, and immigration referred my passport to the supervisor, who has kept me waiting for an hour as she consults her superiors. I am concerned that as a citizen of Jumuiya, my access within the East African Community (EAC) country appears inexplicably restricted. Apart from me, Gloria Kimani and Ngugi Lynn are also detained. The common thread that binds us is that we are all guests of the East Africa Law Society (EALS), Law Society of Kenya (LSK), Faith Odhiambo and Uganda Law Society.”
According to Karua, the three were awaiting deportation from the airport, as their entry was denied due to their interests in the case.
The three were visiting the East African country over the detention of its opposition leader, Tundu Lissu.
