Joseph Isangura
Regional concern is mounting after Tanzanian authorities detained and deported several Kenyan and Ugandan human rights activists who had traveled to observe the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
The incident has reignited questions about political openness and civil liberties in the East African nation.
The activists were stopped at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam upon arrival on May 18, 2025. Among those deported were Kenyan opposition leader and veteran lawyer Martha Karua, Lynn Ngugi, a well-known activist and media personality, and Gloria Kimani, a legal advocate and member of the Law Society of Kenya.
The group had planned to attend the trial of Tundu Lissu, a former presidential candidate and fierce government critic, who is facing treason charges for allegedly inciting unrest through public remarks. The charges have been widely condemned by rights groups as politically motivated and part of a broader effort to stifle dissent.
Also caught up in the sweep were former Chief Justice of Kenya Willy Mutunga, photojournalist and political activist Boniface Mwangi, and Ugandan lawyer and journalist Agather Atuhaire. Mwangi later shared on Twitter that he was harassed by armed men who claimed to be Tanzanian police before his detention and forced removal.
The Tanzanian government has defended the move, with President Samia Suluhu Hassan saying her country would not tolerate what she called “foreign interference” in internal matters. “Tanzania is a sovereign nation,” she said, “and peace must be preserved above all else.”
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Backing her stance, Kenyan Senator Samson Cherargei praised Tanzania’s actions and went as far as to suggest the activists should have faced legal consequences rather than deportation. “We must learn from Tanzania’s firm leadership,” he stated.
However, human rights organizations such as the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and regional observers have expressed alarm. They argue the deportations violate basic principles of freedom of movement and suppress the right to peacefully observe legal proceedings in another sovereign nation.
The incident unfolds at a delicate moment, as Tanzania gears up for its 2025 general elections. Critics warn that the government’s heavy-handed approach could undermine the legitimacy of the electoral process and chill political expression.
As pressure builds from both domestic and international quarters, all eyes are now on Tanzania. Observers from the African Union, the East African Community, and global watchdogs are expected to monitor the situation closely.
Whether this deportation episode signals a broader clampdown or an isolated response remains to be seen. For now, it has put Tanzania’s commitment to democratic values firmly in the international spotlight.
