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Karua’s deportation will not affect Kenya-Tanzania ties, government says
Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura addressing journalists at Kenyatta International Convention Centre on July 18, 2024.
The Kenyan government has maintained that the detention and deportation of its citizens in Tanzania will not affect the strong ties that the two countries have enjoyed for decades.
Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said on Monday during his weekly briefing that since the two countries are in a regional bloc, the East African Community, each country has its own way of handling its affairs.
Mr Mwaura stated that the matter of the People's Liberation Party leader, Martha Karua, who was deported on Sunday along with two other Kenyans, entirely lies with the government of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua addresses the media at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi on arrival from Tanzania where she was denied entry on May 18, 2025.
“I don’t think that there is any diplomatic spat between Kenya and Tanzania. Any country has the right to admit anyone within its territories,” Mr Mwaura said.
He stated that the matter was decided by the Tanzanian authority based on their information, which they had against Ms Karua and the affected individuals.
“That was their decision. If a certain government feels that they have information against a particular individual, whether in government or in opposition, they have the right to admit. The fact that there is free movement of people and goods, does not mean that we don’t take precautions.”
The Spokesperson stated that the case of Ms Karua is an isolated one, and that previously, opposition leaders from Kenya and other parts of the region have been visiting Tanzania and other countries without any problem.
On the allegations from Ms Karua that there could be an attempt from the regional states to curtail the opposition leaders, Mr Mwaura dismissed it, terming it as baseless allegations.
People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi on arrival from Tanzania where she was denied entry on May 18, 2025.
“There is a specific issue here. Martha Karua wanted to go and defend Tundu Lissu in Tanzania, and the government thought otherwise and they were deported. It has nothing to do with the opposition leaders,” Mr Mwaura said, adding that Kenya can also use the same prerogative to deport or stop any person who has questionable characters from visiting.
While speaking at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after arrival, Ms Karua said that she was expecting to see a protest from the Kenyan government condemning the action, failure to which could mean that the two countries collaborated in her deportation.
“I spoke to the Ambassador of Kenya to Tanzania. He told me that he was in Kenya. He sought to speak to them through the airline desk and he said that they were looking into it. If Kenya has not issued any note of protest, then they are collaborating.”
People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi on arrival from Tanzania where she was denied entry on May 18, 2025.
While reacting to Ms Karua’s deportation, Kenyan Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dr Korir Sing'Oei said that the government is reaching out to the Tanzanian authority over the matter.
“Our Mission in Dar es Salaam has reached out to relevant authorities in the United Republic of Tanzania and will be apprising further on the matter shortly,” PS Sing'Oei said through a post on X platform.
Apart from Ms Karua, Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Council Member Gloria Kimani and Lynn Ngugi were also deported.
Advocates Martha Karua, Gloria Kimani and Lyn Ngugi at Julius Nyerere International Airport blocked from entering Tanzania.
The government has announced a firm warning to the political leaders in the country, saying that nothing will stop it from pursuing anybody inciting Kenyans to violence.
Nobody is above the law. The government will not sit back to see Kenyans being incited to violence. The role of the government is to maintain law and order and it does not matter who is doing the wrong thing. We cannot say that government can be held hostage by those individuals or followers.”
This follows the fear among the supporters of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who claimed that his houses in Nyeri and Nairobi were being monitored by the police detectives.
“When the security apparatus have the information against any leader, and especially on incitement, this time we are not taking it very kindly. We are going to be very firm on anyone who is trying to incite the country,” Mr Mwaura said.
On the matter surrounding the investigation of Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, the Spokesperson dismissed the allegations that they are targeting leaders with contrary opinions.