The recent detention and deportation of prominent Kenyan figures, including senior counsel Martha Karua, former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, and other activists, from Tanzania has stirred a wave of concern and debate across East Africa. The individuals were held at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam on Sunday, May 18, and later deported to Nairobi. They had traveled to Tanzania to observe the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, as officially invited by the Law Society of East Africa.
However, Tanzanian authorities stated that the group lacked the necessary legal permits to carry out advocacy activities in the country. According to reports, these Kenyan nationals arrived without the required work licenses, which prompted their swift removal. The Tanzanian government emphasized that their presence was not authorized for legal advocacy, and thus, they were deported after court proceedings at Kisutu Resident Magistrate Court concluded.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu defended the decision, asserting that the country would not allow “wayward individuals” to destabilize its peace. She directed security agencies to prevent both external and internal interference in Tanzania’s internal affairs, underscoring her commitment to maintaining stability.
Despite the diplomatic backlash, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi supported Tanzania’s stance, suggesting that the deported individuals might have engaged in activities that provoked the Tanzanian authorities. Mudavadi acknowledged that Tanzanian officials monitor the conduct of Kenyans within their borders and agreed that the authorities acted to safeguard national stability.
This incident to deport senior Kenyan citizens like Martha Karua and Willy Mutunga has raised important questions about regional cooperation, the freedom of movement within the East African Community, and the boundaries of activism in neighboring countries.
