Kenyan Senator Godfrey Osotsi has sharply criticized the Tanzanian government’s decision to deport senior Kenyan political figure Martha Karua, calling the action “unnecessary and unfortunate.” The deportation, which occurred on May 18, 2025, has drawn sharp reactions from both local and regional leaders who argue it undermines the principles of the East African Community (EAC).
Martha Karua, a veteran politician and former Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, was part of a Kenyan civil society delegation that had traveled to Tanzania to observe the high-profile treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. Upon arrival at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, Karua and fellow activists including former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and Hussein Khalid were detained by Tanzanian immigration authorities and deported without explanation.
Speaking to the press in Nairobi, Senator Osotsi expressed deep concern over the treatment of Karua, emphasizing that such actions threaten the cooperative spirit that binds EAC member states. “Deporting a respected stateswoman like Martha Karua sends the wrong signal,” he said. “It is not only a violation of individual rights but also an affront to regional integration and democratic solidarity.”
Osotsi called on the EAC Secretariat to urgently address the matter and to remind member states of their obligations to uphold mutual respect and cooperation. He further urged diplomatic channels to be engaged to avoid recurrence of such incidents.
The incident has ignited a broader conversation about freedom of movement within the region and the space for democratic engagement across borders. As tensions rise, observers say the EAC must reaffirm its commitment to upholding the values of unity, transparency, and mutual respect among its member nations.
