Babu Owino Writes to President Samia Suluhu, Demands Explanation for His Entry Ban.
Embakasi East Member of Parliament, Babu Owino, has written a formal letter to Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, demanding an explanation regarding his recent entry ban from the East African nation.
In the letter dated February 3, Owino, whose official name is Paul Ongili, requested a detailed response outlining the reasons behind his restriction from entering Tanzania.
He emphasized that he sought to visit the country for business, in his capacity as a Kenyan leader, or simply as a friend of the Tanzanian people.
“I am making a special request to your esteemed office to provide me with a written explanation regarding why I have been barred from entering Tanzania—whether for business, as an elected representative of the people of Kenya, or for any other legitimate purpose,” Owino wrote.
The MP recalled an incident in December 2024 when he was detained upon arrival at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam and subsequently denied entry.
According to him, immigration officers at the airport informed him that his name appeared on a list of individuals classified as “persona non grata” in Tanzania.
“During my visit to Tanzania in December 2024, I was shocked when immigration officers at Dar es Salaam’s airport rejected my passport and informed me, without any explanation, that I was on the list of persona non grata,” Owino stated.
“In a clear violation of my right to freedom of movement, they detained me for several hours at Julius Nyerere International Airport before ultimately denying me entry.”
The legislator decried this treatment, arguing that it not only violated his rights as a citizen of the East African Community (EAC) but also disregarded his status as a duly elected Member of Parliament in Kenya.
“As a Kenyan citizen, I am part of the East African Community, which promotes free movement among partner states. Moreover, as a sitting MP, I represent my country in legislative matters, and Kenya is officially represented in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), headquartered in Tanzania,” he added.
Owino further highlighted that international agreements such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) guarantee freedom of movement for individuals, provided they adhere to the necessary legal requirements—something he had done.
Additionally, he referenced the East African Community (EAC) Treaty and the Free Movement of Persons Regulations, which allow citizens of member states to travel freely within the region.
“Kenya, as a sovereign nation, issues travel passports to its citizens, which are recognized under international law. As a Kenyan citizen, I am entitled to those rights and fundamental freedoms, just like any other person on this planet,” Owino asserted.
His letter follows a statement he made on Saturday, February 1, where he revealed that he was detained for three hours at the airport under claims that his name appeared on Interpol’s most wanted list for Uganda and Tanzania.
“When I arrived at the Dar es Salaam airport and presented my passport for clearance, I was shocked to discover that my name had been flagged on Interpol’s most wanted list,” he disclosed.
“So unfortunate that the Tanzanian government listed me on Interpol’s Most Wanted List. President Suluhu owes me an apology.”
Owino now awaits a response from the Tanzanian government regarding the matter.
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