Kenyan lawyer and former presidential candidate Martha Karua has accused Tanzanian authorities of expelling her upon arrival in Dodoma, where she intended to observe the high-profile treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. Karua, a former Kenyan justice minister, called the move a “clear indication” that Tanzania lacks judicial transparency, and warned that Lissu is unlikely to receive a fair trial under the current administration of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Lissu, vice-chair of Tanzania’s main opposition party Chadema, faces treason charges that carry the possibility of the death penalty. He has been a vocal critic of the government and previously survived an assassination attempt in 2017. Chadema has since been barred from participating in the upcoming October 2025 elections, after refusing to sign the government’s electoral code of conduct—an action that rights groups say signals growing political repression.
Karua condemned the disqualification of Chadema and described the situation as evidence of a “total erosion of democratic principles” in Tanzania. She also reiterated concerns over broader democratic backsliding across East Africa, citing a pattern of silencing opposition and restricting political freedoms. The Tanzanian government has not officially commented on Karua’s removal, but her expulsion adds to mounting international scrutiny of Tanzania’s shrinking political space ahead of a critical election cycle.
