Martha Karua, the leader of the People’s Liberation Party, and former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, have teamed up with a group of activists to file a legal case against the Tanzanian government at the East African Court of Justice (EACJ).
The legal action follows a controversial incident where the leaders and activists were denied entry into Tanzania, held briefly, and later deported.
The events occurred between May 18 and 19, when Karua, Mutunga, and other prominent human rights defenders — including Gloria Kimani, Lynn Ngugi, Hussein Khalid, and Hanifa Adan — arrived at Julius Nyerere International Airport.
They were there to observe a court case involving Tanzania’s opposition leader, Tundu Lissu. However, the group was barred from entering the country and instead sent back. According to the petitioners, they were unlawfully detained at the airport, denied entry without valid reason, and deported unfairly.
In their legal complaint, the leaders argue that the Tanzanian authorities violated the East African Community (EAC) Treaty, which outlines principles such as upholding the rule of law, promoting good governance, encouraging transparency, and allowing free movement of people among member states.
The group is now demanding compensation for the hardship, embarrassment, and inconvenience they endured during the ordeal.
Additionally, they are calling on the Tanzanian government to formally apologize for the treatment they received. The activists also want the “denied entry” stamp that was placed on their passports to be removed, as they believe it unfairly damages their records.
They are asking the East African Court of Justice to issue orders preventing Tanzania from interfering with the free movement of East African citizens in the future.
With the case now officially filed, it is expected to be moved to the EACJ headquarters in Arusha, where a hearing date will soon be set.
These events have created tension between Kenya and Tanzania, countries that have historically maintained a strong diplomatic relationship.
The activists insist that their presence in Tanzania was strictly for monitoring the legal proceedings of the Tundu Lissu case, and not to interfere with Tanzania’s internal affairs.
However, Tanzanian officials claimed that the visitors were meddling in matters that did not concern them.
The situation worsened when two other activists, Boniface Mwangi from Kenya and Agather Atuhire from Uganda, who had managed to enter the country, were arrested and detained by Tanzanian authorities for four days.
Their arrest sparked widespread condemnation and protests. Eventually, the two were released and escorted to their respective national borders.
After their release, both activists accused the Tanzanian authorities of mistreating them, including subjecting them to torture and abuse while in custody.
As the story gained attention online, it stirred a wave of anger and debate, especially among Kenyan youth. The tension reached a point where Kenya’s President William Ruto stepped in and issued a public apology — both to the people of Tanzania and to Kenyan youths — in an effort to calm the situation.
His apology was aimed at easing the diplomatic strain that was rapidly growing between the two neighboring countries.
This case at the East African Court of Justice is now being closely followed by citizens and leaders across the region, as it could set a major precedent for how East African countries treat each other’s citizens and uphold the commitments they have made under the EAC Treaty.
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