People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua has called on East African Community (EAC) member states to demonstrate solidarity with opposition leaders facing political persecution across the region.

Taking to her X account on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, shortly after representing detained Ugandan opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye and his co-accused, Hajji Lutale, at Uganda’s Nakawa Court, Karua expressed deep concern about the increasing pattern of state repression within East Africa.

She warned that the silencing of opposition voices poses a direct threat not only to the political landscapes of these nations but also to the broader stability and democratic principles on which the region stands.

 “The imprisonment of opposition leaders across East Africa demands our attention and action,” she declared, stressing that the persistent arrests and harassment of political figures across the region could not go unnoticed.

She highlighted the fact that just last week, she had been in Tanzania to attend the trial of opposition politician Tundu Lissu, whose life and career have been similarly threatened by the Tanzanian authorities.

This pattern, Karua argued, underlined the growing need for a collective regional approach to defend democracy and human rights across East Africa.

Karua, who has taken an increasingly active role in regional legal advocacy, also took the opportunity to highlight the personal toll on Dr. Besigye, who marked his 69th birthday in detention last week.

“Dr Besigye has been in custody for five months, having been unlawfully seized on Kenyan soil by Uganda’s military forces,” Karua pointed out.

She noted that the legal victory at Uganda’s Supreme Court had resulted in Besigye’s transfer from military custody to civilian court, a significant step forward in ensuring that the leader’s rights were respected.

“Our legal victory at Uganda’s Supreme Court moved him from military custody to civilian court. #BorderlessJustice #WakeUpEastAfrica,” Karua shared with her followers, marking it as a victory for regional justice.

Further stressing the broader implications of such political repression, Karua reminded EAC countries of their collective responsibility to uphold the principles laid out in the East African Community Treaty, which commits all member states to democracy, the rule of law, and human rights.

 “As opposition leaders in neighbouring countries are imprisoned, our children are being killed at home,” she said, drawing attention to the pressing issues faced by both the political elite and ordinary citizens in East Africa.

“Yet the EAC Treaty we’ve signed commits all member states to democracy, rule of law, and human rights. These aren’t optional—they’re foundational!” Karua emphasised, urging all nations in the region to hold each other accountable in the fight for a free and fair political environment.

In a final reflection on the impact of political persecution in one East African state on the stability of its neighbours, Karua added that a stable, democratic East Africa is essential for Kenya’s prosperity and security.

According to her, political persecution in neighbouring countries inevitably affects Kenya’s borders, trade relations, and investment climate, and Kenya must be concerned when things start boiling in the neighbouring countries.

By framing the issue in such broad, regional terms, she reiterated the interconnectedness of the region and the need for East African nations to take action not just for the benefit of their citizens but for the collective future of the region as a whole.

“A stable, democratic East Africa is essential for Kenya’s prosperity and security. Political persecution in neighbouring countries inevitably affects our borders, trade relations, and investment climate. History has shown us that when neighbouring states suppress political opposition, it creates a contagion effect.”