Karua hits back at Samia Suluhu over remarks on foreign activists
People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua has responded to Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu following her recent remarks warning foreign activists against interfering in Tanzania’s internal affairs.
In a statement shared on her official X account on the night of Monday, May 19, 2025, Karua defended her brief visit to Tanzania, saying she and her colleagues did not violate any laws.
She also decried unlawful detention before deportation.
“Hatukuvamia nchi ya Tanzania, @SuluhuSamia. Tulikunja kihalali kama wanajumuiya, tukazuiliwa kinyume cha mkataba wa @jumuiya na kufurushwa inje,” Karua stated while defending their visit to Tanzania.
Loosely translated as: “We did not invade Tanzania, @SuluhuSamia. We entered legally as members of the East African Community; we were unlawfully detained and deported in violation of the community’s treaty.”
Samia’s warning
Karua’s comments come hours after Samia, while addressing a public gathering during the launch of the new Foreign Policy (2024) held at the Julius Nyerere International Conference Centre (JNICC), warned foreign activists against meddling in Tanzania’s internal politics.
Though she did not name individuals, her remarks came shortly after the incident involving Karua and other regional figures. She emphasised that Tanzania is among the few countries that are filled with peace and stability.
“Tumeanza kuona mwenendo wa wanaharakati kuvamia mambo yetu huku. Kama kwao wameshadhibitiwa, wasije kutuharibia huku. Nchi iliyobaki haijaharibika; ni yetu tusitoe nafasi kwa watovu wa adabu kutoka nchi nyingine kuja kuvuruga hapa,” Suluhu said.
Loosely translated as: “We have started to see the behaviour of activists invading our affairs here. If they have been controlled, they should not come and destroy us here. The country that remains unspoiled is ours, so that we do not give room to immoral people from other countries to come and disrupt here.”
Kenyans deported
Among the Kenyans who were deported from Tanzania are former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, activist-cum-journalist Hanifa Adan, and activist Hussein Khalid.
The deportation of the trio comes hours after they were detained at Julius Nyerere International Airport and denied entry into the neighbouring country.
The three had travelled to Tanzania in solidarity with Tanzanian lawyers and human rights defenders at the invitation of the East Africa Law Society to stand in support of the detained opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who appeared in court on Monday, May 19.
Their detention came hours after People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua and human rights defenders and lawyers Gloria Kimani and Lynn Ngugi were detained at the same airport and deported.
