The petitioners argue that Tanzania violated the rights of East African Community citizens by denying them entry without lawful justification.
Lawyers file petition at Milimani Law Court
On June 10, 2025, Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo, East Africa Law Society President Ramadhan Abubakar, and LSK Council Member Gloria Kimani filed the petition at the Milimani Law Court.
The case targets the Republic of Tanzania over the detention and deportation of several Kenyan citizens.
Senior leaders among petitioners
The petition includes former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, Senior Counsel Martha Karua, human rights activists Lynn Ngugi, Gloria Kimani, Hussein Khalid, and Hanifa Adan.
The group travelled to Tanzania on May 18 and 19, 2025, to observe the court proceedings involving opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
However, Tanzanian authorities detained them at Julius Nyerere International Airport before deporting them to Kenya.
Petition seeks compensation
The applicants want the East African Court of Justice to award compensation for the alleged unlawful detention and deportation.
They also want the court to order Tanzania to cancel the passport endorsements that recorded their refusal of entry.
According to the petitioners, those endorsements unfairly portray them as inadmissible travellers.
EALS cites East African Community rights
Speaking outside the Milimani Law Court, EALS President Ramadhan Abubakar said every East African Community citizen has the right to move freely within member states.
He explained that the case will proceed before the East African Court of Justice in Arusha, Tanzania.
Additionally, he expressed confidence that the court would hear the matter without unnecessary delays.
LSK demands accountability
Faith Odhiambo said Tanzania should answer for detaining and deporting Kenyan citizens without lawful cause.
She noted that the affected individuals had committed no offence that justified denying them entry.
“As a country, a nation, we want the government of Tanzania to be held accountable for detaining and deporting our people,” Odhiambo said.
Furthermore, she argued that such actions undermine the principles of regional integration under the East African Community Treaty.
She urged the East African Court of Justice to hold Tanzania accountable and prevent similar incidents in the future.
