Martha Karua Slams Suluhu Over Human Rights and Travel Restrictions
Martha Karua, a fierce defender of justice and human rights, has once again called out Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu, accusing her government of blocking regional integration through harsh visa policies.
Karua’s latest remarks came just hours after Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley boldly urged the abolition of visa restrictions between Africa and the Caribbean.
“All visa requirements should be abolished. Africans and Caribbean people should be able to move freely,” Mottley declared.
Karua quickly backed this statement on Saturday, June 7, 2025, urging President Suluhu to take the call seriously. She tagged Suluhu directly in her post, demanding change and respect for regional unity.
Karua’s Own Ordeal in Tanzania
This is not the first time Karua has criticized the Suluhu administration. Just last month, on May 18, 2025, Karua was denied entry into Tanzania.
She had flown to Dar es Salaam for a human rights forum with fellow Kenyan advocates Lynn Ngugi and Gloria Kimani. Shockingly, they were all stopped at Julius Nyerere International Airport.
“I arrived at Dar es Salaam Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Airport at nine am,” Karua shared.
Martha Karua: “East Africa is Becoming a Prison of Borders”
“Immigration referred my passport to the supervisor, who kept me waiting for an hour as she consulted her superiors.”
Eventually, she was denied entry, even though she is a respected Kenyan figure and a member of the East African Community (EAC).
“I am concerned that as a citizen of Jumuiya, my access within the EAC appears inexplicably restricted,” she added.
More Barriers, More Pain
Coincidentally, Karua’s comments came just hours after Godbless Lema, a Tanzanian opposition leader, was blocked from entering Kenya for medical treatment.
“I am in a lot of pain and I had a hospital appointment in Nairobi, but now I can’t go,” Lema said in frustration.
He was detained at the Kenya-Tanzania border for over four hours before being ordered to return to Arusha. His passport was seized, and he was instructed to seek answers in Dodoma.
“I have been instructed to go back to Arusha and to visit the immigration offices in Dodoma for more information,” he added.
Karua: It’s Time for Change
Karua’s voice echoes across East Africa, demanding freedom of movement and fair treatment.
With travel bans rising and human rights concerns deepening, she insists: “This is not integration. It’s exclusion.”
ALSO READ: Karua Leads African Activists in Petition to AU: “Hold Suluhu Accountable for Illegal Detentions!”
Martha Karua Slams Suluhu Over Human Rights and Travel Restrictions
