Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei has come out strongly to condemn the detention of former Chief Justice Dr Willy Mutunga, activist Haniffa Falsafi, and Hussein Khalid in Tanzania.

The three were arrested while en route to attend a court session involving a detained Tanzanian opposition leader.

In a firm statement issued Monday morning, May 19, 2025, PS Korir criticised Tanzanian authorities for what he termed an unjustifiable and unacceptable act that contravenes the principles of the East African Community.

“We strongly urge the authorities in Tanzania to release the former Chief Justice of Kenya and his delegation consistent with the norms of the East African Community,” Korir said.

We strongly urge the authorities in Tanzania to release the former Chief Justice of Kenya and his delegation consistent with the norms of the East African Community. https://t.co/FK1R8EPuDA

— Korir Sing'Oei (@SingoeiAKorir) May 19, 2025

He emphasised that such actions undermine the spirit of regional cooperation, particularly the right to freedom of movement and association, which are enshrined in the East African Community Treaty.

On Monday morning, May 19, 2025, former Kenyan Chief Justice Willy Mutunga reported that he was being detained at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, alongside activists Hanifa Adana and Hussein Khalid.

They had arrived to support Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu ahead of his court appearance on treason charges.

The group were detained for several hours without clear reasons provided by Tanzanian authorities, held in an interrogation room, and subsequently deported.

 Mutunga reported that their passports were not returned during the detention, and they were informed they would be sent back to their respective destinations.

Other activists in similar circumstances

This incident followed the detention and deportation of PLP party leader Martha Karua and her two other colleagues, also interested parties in Lissu’s trial, on Sunday, May 18, 2025.

This is not the only incident; elsewhere, Boniface Mwangi faced similar circumstances while in Dar es Salaam, while also in the same mission to support and stand in solidarity with Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu’s court case. Mwangi reported a late-night confrontation at a hotel in Dar es Salaam, where armed men in civilian clothes, claiming to be police, attempted to access his room without identification.

 Fearing for his safety due to Tanzania’s history of abductions and intimidation, he refused to open the door, stating they would need to break it down.

He expressed concerns about his life, citing the political climate ahead of Tanzania’s October 2025 elections.

 Mwangi indicated he would cooperate with Tanzanian lawyers handling the matter and remain in place.

The detentions have drawn condemnation from human rights groups, with them blaming President Samia Suluhu for being behind all atrocities that activists in Lissu trial are currently going through.