Former CJ Willy Mutunga, activists Hanifa and Hussein Khalid detained in Tanzania
The former Chief Justice (CJ) Willy Mutunga, alongside activists Hanifa Adana and Hussein Khalid, has been detained in Tanzania.
In a statement on X on Monday, May 19, 2025, activist Adana revealed that they had been held and left stranded at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam.
“We’ve been held at Julius Nyerere International Airport since 2 a.m. The terminals are deserted, the floors are cold, and we’re hungry. Everyone seems to have gone to sleep, leaving us stranded. I’m genuinely asking, what is President Samia so afraid of? This situation is utterly absurd,” she lamented.
On the other hand, her counterpart, Hussein Khalid, revealed on X that they didn’t have their passports and were being held in an interrogation room.
“Following our detention, we’ve been brought to the interrogation room. They’ve told us to wait here for their senior officer – I guess the chief interrogator! We still don’t have our passports nor do we know why we’re being detained,” he stated
The three had travelled to Tanzania in solidarity with Tanzanian lawyers and human rights defenders at the invitation of the East Africa Law Society.
Martha Karua’s detention
This comes hours after People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua, alongside human rights defenders and lawyers Gloria Kimani and Lynn Ngugi, was detained at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Tanzania.
In a social media post on Sunday, May 18, 2025, Karua said she was denied entry into Tanzania and that authorities are planning to deport her back to Kenya.
“I have been denied entry into Tanzania, and I and two colleagues are awaiting deportation at Mwalimu Nyerere International Airport, Dar es Salaam,” Karua said.
Karua stated that she had arrived in Tanzania at 9.00 am, and an immigration official at the airport referred her passport to the supervisor.
“I arrived at Dar es Salaam, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Airport, at 9 a.m., and immigration referred my passport to the supervisor, who kept me waiting for an hour as she consulted her superiors,” Karua posted.
“I am concerned that, as a citizen of Jumuiya, my access within the East African Community (EAC) appears inexplicably restricted.”
The PLP leader had travelled to Tanzania to support detained opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is facing treason charges in court.
She alleged that their entry was being denied due to their interest in the politically charged case involving Tundu Lissu.
“The common thread between Gloria Kimani, a council member of LSK, and Lynn Ngugi is that we are guests of EALS. I suspect all visitors who may be interested in the politically motivated case against Tundu Lissu are being denied entry,” she stated
