Several Kenyan human rights activists, including a former justice minister, were denied entry to Tanzania over the weekend as they traveled to attend the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
Lissu, who was shot 16 times in a 2017 assassination attempt and placed second in the last presidential election, faces treason charges related to a speech in which prosecutors claim he urged the public to rebel and disrupt upcoming elections in October.
The arrests have drawn attention to the human rights record of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is seeking re-election. Despite criticism, Hassan maintains that her government is committed to upholding human rights.
Lissu’s CHADEMA party has demanded electoral reforms, arguing that the current system unfairly benefits the ruling party.
Lissu appeared in court for the first time since his arrest on Monday, raising his fist as supporters chanted “No Reforms, No Election,” in a video shared by CHADEMA on X. “We will reach there… we will be fine. You should not fear,” Lissu told the crowd.
Among those detained at Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere International Airport were Kenya’s former Justice Minister Martha Karua, opposition politician and lawyer, and at least two other activists. They were subsequently sent back to Nairobi, according to their statements on X.
Tanzania’s immigration spokesperson, Paul Mselle, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Karua told Kenyan broadcaster NTV on Monday, “Today was going to be a big day, and we went out there in solidarity. The state cannot be used as a personal tool. You cannot deport people whom you don’t like, who are not aligned to your views.”
Also detained were Kenya’s former Justice Minister Willy Mutunga and two other rights activists, who remain held at the airport.
