Martha Karua, a lawyer and presidential candidate in Kenya, said Sunday she had been expelled from Tanzania, where she had been due to attend the trial of a prominent opposition figure facing treason charges.Karua, a former justice minister who has been vocal about “democratic backsliding” in East Africa, said her deportation was a sign that the Tanzanian authorities would not give a fair trial to Chadema party leader Tindu Lissu. Karua went to Dar es Salaam to observe the trial of Lissu, who is to appear in court on Monday on treason charges that carry a possible death penalty.Lissu’s Chadema party has been disqualified from presidential and legislative elections to due in October.Karua said she and her group were stopped on arrival at Dar es Salaam airport and put on a flight out the same day.The group were detained “for no offence, for merely seeking to go and stand for solidarity and to observe the trial of Tundu Lissu”, she said on her return to Nairobi airport.
Threat of a test
Karua, a probable presidential candidate in Kenya in 2027, described Lissu as the main rival to Samia Suluhu Hassan, the leader of Tanzania. Hassan’s group, according to her, was” subverting the rules to plug up the main contenders so that they can sail with unchallenged” in the October votes. Her imprisonment demonstrated that Tundu Lissu’s ruling party was “determined to break the law and are not interested in having a good trial,” Karua continued. After refusing to sign an electoral code of conduct, Lisasu’s group was disqualified from the votes. It had demanded changes to the democratic process and accused Hassan of engaging in oppressive behavior under previous leaders. Her care was denounced by Karua’s Women’s Liberation Party. The organization’s statement on X stated that” This disgraceful act is not only a blatant violation of the principles of the East African Community ( EAC ), of which both Kenya and Tanzania are founding members. It is also a blatant violation of their personal dignity and fundamental freedoms.
The disorganized state of East Africa
In an interview this quarter, Karua claimed that all these nations are presently risky for both their own citizens and Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. She said,” It’s a pattern, she argued. I have to do this with the upcoming elections. Before the election, they are neutering the criticism. Karua launched the People’s Liberation Party in February as she prepares to run for president in 2027. A number of opposition leaders are vying for her, all of whom are hoping to challenge President William Ruto, whose reputation was stifled by public demonstrations last time over corruption and tax increases. Karua was Raila Odinga’s running mate in the 2022 vote, who lost to Ruto. She told AFP that Kenya is “in full disarray.” It appears as though our law has been revoked. We have judicial killings, subjective arrests, and abductions, she continued. The police and authorities do not accept responsibility, she continued.
Demonstrations that are homicidal
At least 60 Kenyans were killed in June and July demonstrations, according to rights groups, and more than 80 have been kidnapped by security forces since then, with many more still missing. Kenya’s authorities deny presence, and Ruto claimed last week that all those who had been abducted after the anti-government demonstrations were returning with their families. Kizza Besigye, the head of the Ugandan opposition, was abducted in Kenya last year and taken back to his home country for prosecution, according to Karua. He is also accused of treason. In Uganda, elections are held in January. Ugandan army chief General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the boy and heir-apparent of long-ruling President Yoweri Museveni, threatened voters who did no support their party next month. Be extremely cautious if you don’t genuinely assist Mzee! We will deport all the rebels in the open air! “.
