Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua, a presidential candidate who also represents opposition figures on trial in neighbouring countries, was arrested in Tanzania on Sunday, a spokesperson told AFP.
Karua has been representing Tanzanian opposition leader Tindu Lissu, who is on trial for treason and faces a possible death penalty.
Lissu is due in court on Monday.
The trial comes as Tanzania prepares for elections in October.
Karua “was detained at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, questioned for three hours, her passport was confiscated and she is awaiting deportation”, the spokesperson said.
A former justice minister in Kenya, Karua has been vocal about “democratic backsliding” in the East Africa region.
She has also been representing Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who was kidnapped in Kenya last year and taken back to his home country to also face treason charges.
Uganda holds elections in January.
“What we are seeing is total erosion of democratic principles in the three countries: Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda,” Karua told AFP in an interview earlier this month.
“All these countries now have become dangerous, not just to others but to their own nationals. I tie this to the forthcoming elections,” she said.
She accused the leadership of the three countries of “collaborating”.
Kenyan politician, lawyer for Tanzania opposition leader arrested
