Nelson Koech, Chairperson of the National Assembly’s Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee, has commented on Tanzania’s decision to deny entry to People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua. Speaking on Citizen TV, Koech said that while the move contradicts the East African Community (EAC) Treaty on free movement, every country retains the sovereign right to determine who can enter its borders.
Koech noted that only Karua’s version of events is known so far, as Tanzania has not issued an official explanation. He advised Karua to focus more on domestic affairs, highlighting her past involvement in legal matters in Uganda as well. Koech questioned her frequent attempts to represent clients across the EAC, suggesting that regional governments might have valid concerns. Still, he expressed sympathy for her situation, while reiterating that Tanzania’s decision undermines the EAC’s principles.
Karua was detained at Julius Nyerere International Airport alongside lawyers Lynn Ngugi and Gloria Kimani, who were traveling as guests of the East Africa Law Society and the Law Society of Kenya. She raised concern over increasing movement restrictions within the EAC, linking their denial of entry to their interest in the politically sensitive treason case of Tanzanian opposition figure Tundu Lissu.
