Karua, former CJ Mutunga and 4 others sue Tanzania govt over detentions
People’s Liberation Party (PLP) Martha Karua, former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, Hussein Khalid, and three other human rights activists on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, sued the government of Tanzania for unlawful detention and refusal of entry.
The six have moved to the East African Court of Justice in Arusha, where they are seeking to have the Attorney General of the United Republic of Tanzania be ordered to remove the refused entry wording from the passports of Karua, Gloria Kimani, and Lynn Ngugi.
“An order directing the respondent to remove the refused entry notation from the passports of the second applicant (Martha Karua), third applicant (Gloria Kimani), and fourth applicant (Lynn Ngugi),” part of the application read.
Further, the six are seeking to have the court order the government of Tanzania to issue a public apology to them, citing that the treatment they received from its officials affected them as residents of the East African Community.
They also state that the government’s actions against them are in contravention of the Treaty and Common Market Protocol, as per Articles 4(2)(a), 5(2)(b), and 7 of the East African Community Common Market Protocol, 2009.
Meanwhile, they want the East African Court of Justice in Arusha to direct the Tanzanian government to pay them general damages that came along with their detention and deportation back to Kenya.
“An order directing the respondent (Attorney General of the United Republic of Tanzania) to pay general damages for the actions in contravention of their rights under the Treaty and Common Market Protocol and for the mental anguish, pain, and suffering,” part of the application read.
Additionally, the six are also seeking to have the court order the Tanzanian government to pay them special damages for the travel-related costs that they incurred.
They also urge the court to issue an order restraining President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s government from further infringements of the rights to free movement of persons of residents of the East African Community.
According to their affidavits, Justice Mutunga, Martha Karua, Gloria Kimani, Lynn Ngugi, Hussein Khalid, and Hanifa Adan had travelled to Tanzania to attend and observe the treason trial of Tundu Lissu.
They state that the refusal of entry by the Tanzanian government infringed the open justice principle and fairness of trial, the principles of good governance, transparency, and accountability under Articles 6(d) and 7(2) of the East African Community Treaty, 1999 (as amended).
