Karua accuses Kenya Kwanza of complicity in Tanzania entry denial
People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua has accused President William Ruto’s administration of colluding with Tanzania’s ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), after she and two other Kenyans were denied entry into the country on Sunday, May 18, 2025.
In a media interview held the same day, Karua, who was travelling to Tanzania as a member of the East Africa Law Society, linked her deportation to the Tanzanian government’s desire to shield the trial of Tundu Lissu, who is facing treason charges for calling for electoral reforms ahead of the country’s October general elections.
“Putting Tundu Lissu in prison prevents him from campaigning. Banning the Chadema party effectively hands the election to CCM and President Samia Suluhu. This is a political trial, and observers are essential,” she asserted.
While narrating what went down in Tanzania moments before her deportation, Karua took aim at Ruto, accusing him of failing to stand up for Kenyan citizens.
The PLP party leader questioned the silence of the Kenyan government, claiming that the failure to issue a protest note signalled approval or complicity in her treatment.
“The Kenyan government has not issued any protest note on the treatment of three of its citizens. It smells of complicity between the Kenya Kwanza administration and the CCM administration in Tanzania. This is a great shame,” she added.
According to Karua, the Kenyan ambassador to Tanzania called her while she was still at the airport, but offered little help, stating that efforts by the East African Law Society and human rights organisations to reach the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nairobi were unsuccessful.
“I think Kenya has through the action of its officials to cover itself not to appear complicit. But anything short of a formal request for explanation or protest means Kenya is complicit. I have no doubt in that,” she stated.
She emphasised that she and her colleagues would not give up and pledged to seek redress through the East African Court, along with engaging in public advocacy.
“The silence of Kenya suggests that they’re complicit. But we will not just sit and wait for the authorities in Kenya. We will take action. That’s why there is the EAC court. We’ll also take action in the court of public opinion, speaking out,” she stressed.
Deportation incident
Karua recounted that immigration officers at the airport held her passport and informed her that she would not be permitted entry into Tanzania.
She mentioned that the officials did not provide a clear explanation and instructed her to take the next available flight back to Nairobi.
“We were detained at the airport — not in handcuffs — but guarded by a police officer in civilian clothes. After about an hour, the immigration officer returned and said, ‘We will not be granted entry into Tanzania,'” she recalled.
According to Karua, the deportation violated the foundational principles of the East African Community (EAC), particularly freedom of movement and the rule of law.
“Deporting me and my colleagues means that the administration in Tanzania is using Jumuiya as personal property to fight petty battles. This reflects very poorly on the current state of regional cooperation,” she rallied.
