Mwaura: Deportation of Karua, Mutunga won’t harm Kenya-Tanzania relations

Despite the deportation of Kenyan nationals from Tanzania, including former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua, the Kenyan government insists the incidents will not disrupt decades of cooperation between the neighbouring East African Community member states.

Speaking during his weekly briefing on Monday, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura emphasised that each country within the regional bloc manages its internal affairs independently. He noted that the deportations, including that of Karua alongside two other Kenyans, were decisions made solely by Tanzanian authorities under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s government.

“I don't think that there is any diplomatic spat between Kenya and Tanzania. Any country has the right to admit anyone within its territories,” Mwaura said.

He added that Tanzania acted on intelligence it had regarding the individuals involved.

“If a certain government feels that they have information against a particular individual, whether in government or opposition, it has the right to admit. The fact that there is free movement of people and goods does not mean that we don't take precautions," he said.

Describing the case as isolated, Mwaura pointed out that opposition leaders from Kenya and other countries in the region have travelled to Tanzania without hindrance before.

Responding to claims by Karua that the deportations represented coordinated efforts to restrict opposition leaders, Mwaura dismissed the allegations as baseless.

“There is a specific issue here. Martha Karua wanted to go and defend Tundu Lissu in Tanzania, but the government thought otherwise, and they were deported. It has nothing to do with the opposition leaders," he said.

He also reiterated Kenya’s right to bar entry or deport individuals with questionable backgrounds, emphasising reciprocity in regional security.

Upon her arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Karua criticised the Kenyan government for failing to protest the deportations.

“I spoke to the Ambassador of Kenya to Tanzania. He told me that he was in Kenya. He sought to speak to them through the airline desk, and he said that they were looking into it. If Kenya has not issued any note of protest, then they are collaborating," she said.

In response, Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dr Korir Sing’Oei confirmed the government’s ongoing engagement with Tanzanian officials.

“Our Mission in Dar es Salaam has reached out to relevant authorities in the United Republic of Tanzania and will be apprising further on the matter shortly,” he said on the X platform.

In addition to Karua, Law Society of Kenya Council Member Gloria Kimani and Lynn Ngugi were also deported.

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• Headlines
• National
• Isaac Mwaura
• Tanzania
• President Samia Suluhu Hassan
• Tundu Lissu
• Martha Karua
• deportation
• Mwaura: Deportation of Karua
• Mutunga won’t harm Kenya-Tanzania relations

The government issued a firm warning to political leaders, emphasising that no one is above the law and that anyone inciting violence will face consequences.

“The government will not sit back to see Kenyans being incited to violence. The role of the government is to maintain law and order, and it does not matter who is doing the wrong thing. We cannot say that the government can be held hostage by those individuals or followers,” Mwaura said.

The statement comes amid claims from supporters of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that police are monitoring his residences in Nyeri and Nairobi.

“When the security apparatus has the information against any leader, and especially on incitement, this time we are not taking it very kindly. We are going to be very firm on anyone who is trying to incite the country,” Mwaura added.

On allegations that investigations into Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya target opposition leaders, Mwaura dismissed the claims, maintaining that the government is not persecuting dissenting voices.