Kenya urges Tanzania to free ex-Chief Justice Mutunga after detention
Kenya has asked Tanzania to release former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, who was detained in Dar es Salaam with his team ahead of a major court case involving Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
Kenya’s Foreign Ministry made the call in a statement on social media, urging Tanzania to respect regional cooperation rules.
The ministry's Principal Secretary, Korir Sing’Oei, said the detention of Justice Mutunga and others went against the values of the East African Community.
Sing’Oei’s appeal follows similar action taken by Tanzania earlier in the week, when Kenyan politician Martha Karua and some members of the Law Society of Kenya were deported.
Sing’Oei’s appeal is similar action by Tanzania earlier in the week, when Kenyan politician Martha Karua was detained at the Dar es Salaam airport on May 18 and later deported to Nairobi after being held for six hours.
Karua was travelling with fellow human rights defenders and lawyers Lynn Ngugi and Gloria Kimani. All three were invited by the East Africa Law Society and the Law Society of Kenya.
In a post after her return, Karua said she was troubled by what she called an unexplained restriction on her freedom of movement within the East African Community.
She linked the deportation to their interest in the high-profile case involving Lissu.
Tundu Lissu, a well-known critic of the Tanzanian government and a leader in the CHADEMA opposition party, is facing treason charges.
He is expected to appear in court on May 19. If found guilty, he could face the death penalty.
His party has already been barred from taking part in the upcoming elections scheduled for October, raising further concern about the state of political freedoms in Tanzania.
Human rights groups and regional observers say the arrests and deportations of Kenyan citizens are worrying signs ahead of the vote.
According to them, Tanzania’s actions could limit civic space and make it harder for the opposition to operate freely.
Tanzania has often reacted strongly to what it sees as interference by outsiders, especially from Kenya, whose civil society has close ties to Tanzanian opposition movements.
