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Tag: Senior Counsel Martha Karua

  • Martha Karua, two others denied entry to Tanzania

    Martha Karua, two others denied entry to Tanzania

    Kenyan politician and Senior Counsel Martha Karua has been denied entry into Tanzania.

    Karua who is also the People’s Liberation Party leader, is currently being detained at the Mwalimu Nyerere International Airport Dar es Salaam, along with her colleagues Gloria Kimani, Council Member of the Law Society of Kenya and Lyn Ngugi, a human rights defender.

    “I have been denied entry into Tanzania and I and two colleagues are awaiting deportation at Mwalimu Nyerere International Airport Dar es Salaam. The common thread that binds us is that we are all guests of the East Africa Law Society and the Law Society of Kenya,” she said on X.

    In a rejoinder, the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) has strongly condemned what it describes as the arbitrary arrest of the three.

    Tundu Lissu case

    Although the reason behind their detention upon arrival on Sunday morning has not been officially communicated, the coalition states that their visit was solely for the purpose of conducting trial observation in the ongoing case involving Advocate Tundu Lissu, Chairperson of the main opposition party, Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA).

    The coalition is now calling for their immediate and unconditional release, stating that their presence in Tanzania is lawful

    “We urge the relevant airport and immigration authorities to act with urgency and in accordance with the law by releasing Advocate Martha Karua, Gloria Kimani, and Lyn Ngugi without delay. Their presence in Tanzania for a lawful, professional, and internationally recognised function should be respected”, THRDC urged.

    THRDC, says through the Human Rights Committee in collaboration with the East African Law Society (EALS), is actively following up on the matter.

    “We have instructed Advocate Hekima Mwasipu to pursue all necessary legal steps to secure the immediate and unconditional release of the detained advocates”, the coalition assured.

    While expressing shock at the incident, THRDC, explained that this is not the first time Karua has participated in observing proceedings, noting that on 24th April 2025, she appeared in court for the same purpose without any interference from authorities.

    “The right to observe public trials is a recognised component of a fair and transparent judicial process, as enshrined in both domestic law and international human rights instruments, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights”, the coalition emphasised.

  • Lawyers want case against 22 Kikuyu elders dismissed

    Lawyers want case against 22 Kikuyu elders dismissed

    Lawyers representing 22 people who were arrested at Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga have opposed an attempt by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) to have the case withdrawn.

    Senior Counsel Martha Karua, who is leading a group of over 50 lawyers representing the accused, argued that the defence wants to have the case dismissed and not just withdrawn.

    She explained that withdrawing the case under section 87(a) does not mean the case is over as the accused can be arrested and prosecuted again as investigations to gather evidence against them will be ongoing.

    Karua noted that it also means that they will be setting a precedent that other persons can be arrested under similar circumstances.

    She argued that the Agikuyu like all other Kenyans deserve freedom of worship and added that the prosecution of the 22 amounts to ethnic profiling.

    “This case is a test for the Mount Kenya Region because it seems their culture and religion are being criminalized,” Karua said.

    “The charges against the accused are defective and should be dismissed not withdrawn,” she added.

    The accused, who are mostly senior citizens, were arraigned at Murang’a law courts before Senior Principal Magistrate Edwin Nyaga in an impromptu hearing as their case was scheduled for hearing on February 28; the DPP, through a letter, requested for a special hearing to withdraw the case.

    Lawyer Kibe Mungai, argued that there were some irregularities surrounding the withdrawal of the case among them the fact that the DPP did not supply a physical copy of the change of hearing date to the accused as required.

    He also slammed the ambush hearing and noted that the DPP was not in a position to change the set hearing date as that would short-circuit the proceedings.

    Lawyer Ndegwa Njiru who was informed of the new court date through a letter last Friday, on his part, said freedom of worship and culture must be protected and they do not want a situation where people will be required to get special permits to assemble for worship or cultural practices.

    “No community should be profiled for practicing the rights enshrined in the Constitution and we are going to fight the criminalisation of the Kikuyu culture,” he said.

    “This case is not just against the 22 accused persons but it is ethnic profiling of the entire Kikuyu community,” he said.

    Njiru noted that withdrawal of the case would entrap the elders and label them criminals and they can only be truly free after the matter is concluded and the cases thrown out.

    He noted that shrines should be accessible to the public and the defense team is not going to allow restrictions to practicing culture or worship.

    The case will be heard on February 28 as previously scheduled.