Martha Karua
Source: Africa Publicity
Authorities in Tanzania have reportedly deported Kenya’s former Justice Minister, Martha Karua. According to Karua who is a top lawyer, her deportation is aimed at preventing her from attending the court case of Tanzanian opposition leader, Tundu Lissu.
Karua says two of her colleagues who accompanied her were also detained and deported after flying in from neighbouring Kenya.
Lissu is the leader of Tanzania’s main opposition Chadema party. He is due to appear in court on Monday, May 19, 2025, after being charged with treason in April this year.
Karua, a respected human rights advocate, has been criticizing what she calls “democratic backsliding” in East Africa.
Aside Lissu, Karua has also been representing Ugandan opposition politician Kizza Besigye, who was kidnapped in Kenya last year and taken back to his home country to face treason charges.
Like Lissu, Besigye has denied the charges, arguing that they are politically motivated.
Karua served as Kenya’s justice minister from 2005 to 2009, and was the running-mate of former Prime Minister Raila Odigna in his failed presidential bid in elections in 2022.
She launched her own opposition party, the People’s Liberation Party (PLP), earlier in 2025.
Condemnation
Meanwhile, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has condemned Tanzania for the deportations.
In a strongly worded press statement released Sunday, May 18, the LSK expressed its “exasperation by the inexcusable, illegal and arbitrary denial of entry” to Senior Counsel Martha Karua, and Gloria Kimani, both LSK council Members.
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