Martha Karua arrested in Tanzania amid regional crackdown on opposition

Kenyan presidential hopeful detained while defending Tanzanian opposition leader ahead of key East African elections.

Martha Karua, 67, leader of the People’s Liberation Party (PLP) and a prominent opposition figure in Kenya, speaks during an interview in Nairobi on May 5, 2025. Photo by Tony Karumba/AFP

By Clarisa Sendy and Anna Fadiah

Kenyan lawyer and 2027 presidential candidate Martha Karua was arrested in Tanzania on Sunday while representing Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu in a high-profile treason case. The incident, which comes just days before Lissu is scheduled to appear in court, has intensified fears about increasing repression and democratic backsliding across East Africa.

Karua, a former Kenyan justice minister and prominent human rights advocate, was taken into custody at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, where she was questioned for three hours. Her passport was seized, and she is currently awaiting deportation, according to a spokesperson who spoke with AFP.

The arrest comes at a critical time in the region. Tanzania is gearing up for its general elections in October, while neighboring Uganda is preparing for its own polls in January. Both elections are expected to be tightly contested, and rights groups have expressed growing alarm at escalating authoritarian tactics employed by governments in the region.

Karua’s regional legal activism under threat

Karua has gained prominence in recent years not only as a political figure in Kenya but also as a defense lawyer for embattled opposition leaders across East Africa. In addition to representing Lissu, who faces a possible death sentence, Karua has also been advocating on behalf of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye. Besigye was reportedly abducted in Kenya last year and forcibly returned to Uganda, where he too faces treason charges.

Speaking to AFP earlier this month, Karua warned of a "total erosion of democratic principles" in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. “These countries have become dangerous, not just to their own nationals but also to outsiders,” she said. “I tie this to the forthcoming elections.”

She further alleged that the governments of all three countries were collaborating to neutralize their respective oppositions, noting a “pattern” of coordinated repression. “They are neutering the opposition ahead of elections,” Karua added, characterizing the trend as a systematic effort to undermine political competition and silence dissent.

The People's Liberation Party and 2027 ambitions

Karua recently launched the People’s Liberation Party in February, a new political vehicle aimed at engaging Kenya’s youth and reasserting civil liberties ahead of her 2027 presidential bid. Her candidacy pits her against a crowded field of opposition leaders all looking to challenge President William Ruto, whose popularity has declined in the wake of mass protests over taxation and corruption in 2024.

In the 2022 general election, Karua was the running mate of veteran politician Raila Odinga, who narrowly lost to Ruto. Despite the defeat, Karua has remained a vocal figure in national politics, increasingly aligning her legal work with her broader political advocacy for human rights and democratic reforms.

Karua: 'Kenya is in total disarray'

In a candid interview earlier this month, Karua described Kenya’s current state as being in “total disarray.” She cited widespread reports of abductions, arbitrary arrests, and extrajudicial killings. “It’s as if our constitution has been suspended,” she said. “The police and other authorities no longer take responsibility for their actions.”

Rights organizations have documented at least 60 fatalities during anti-government protests in June and July of last year. Over 80 individuals were reportedly abducted by security forces, with many still unaccounted for. Despite these allegations, the Kenyan police have denied any involvement in the incidents.

President Ruto responded to the allegations last week, stating that all those abducted have since returned home. “I have given clarity and firm instructions that nothing of that kind of nature will happen again,” he told reporters.

Rising tensions across East Africa

Karua’s detention in Tanzania highlights a broader crackdown on opposition leaders across East Africa, particularly as elections approach. In Tanzania, Lissu’s party, Chadema, has been disqualified from participating in the upcoming polls after refusing to sign an electoral code of conduct. The party had demanded sweeping electoral reforms and accused President Samia Suluhu Hassan of reverting to the country’s past authoritarian practices.

Meanwhile in Uganda, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of long-serving President Yoweri Museveni, sparked controversy last week with an ominous message to voters. Writing on social media platform X, Muhoozi warned citizens to “be very careful” if they do not support his father’s ruling party. “We will deport all the traitors in public view!” he declared.

The comments, widely condemned by activists and opposition figures, have stoked further fears about militarization of the political space in Uganda, where opposition leaders like Besigye and musician-turned-politician Bobi Wine have long faced harassment and arbitrary detention.

East African cooperation or coordinated repression?

Analysts suggest that the recent actions in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda point to more than coincidence. There are signs that regional security agencies are sharing intelligence and possibly coordinating efforts to suppress dissent, particularly among high-profile opposition leaders with cross-border influence like Karua.

“This is a very troubling trend,” said Dr. James Mwangi, a Nairobi-based political analyst. “The East African Community should be a forum for cooperation and development—not a space for leaders to consolidate power through repression.”

Karua’s supporters are now calling for her immediate release and safe return to Kenya, warning that her detention could set a dangerous precedent for other regional activists and lawyers. The Kenyan Bar Association and several international legal organizations have issued statements condemning her arrest and urging Tanzanian authorities to respect international law.

Looking ahead to 2027

Karua’s arrest is likely to galvanize her supporters in Kenya, where she remains one of the most prominent female political figures. Her leadership of the People’s Liberation Party could take on added significance if she continues to position herself not only as a national reformer but also as a champion of regional democracy and justice.

As the countdown to the 2027 election begins, observers will be watching closely to see how Karua navigates the legal and political challenges ahead. Her detention in Tanzania may mark a turning point in the ongoing battle for democratic accountability across East Africa.

But for now, one thing is clear: Martha Karua’s arrest in Tanzania has laid bare the high stakes facing opposition leaders in the region—and raised urgent questions about the future of democratic governance in East Africa.