Dar es Salaam: Leading Kenyan lawyer and former Justice Minister Martha Karua has been detained in Tanzania after arriving to attend the court hearing of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. Karua announced via social media that she, along with two colleagues, was detained at the main international airport and is awaiting deportation. Tanzanian authorities have yet to provide a comment on the situation. According to Nam News Network, Karua, who served as Kenya's justice minister from 2005 to 2009 and was the running mate of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in the 2022 elections, launched her own opposition party, the People's Liberation Party, earlier this year. Her spokesperson reported that she was interrogated for three hours at the airport in Dar es Salaam, and her passport was confiscated. Alongside Karua, fellow Kenyan lawyer Gloria Kimani and human rights campaigner Lynn Ngugi are also facing deportation. The Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition has condemned the arrest, labeling it as arbitrary, an d has engaged lawyers to seek the release of the three individuals. The coalition expressed shock over the detentions, noting that Karua was previously allowed into Tanzania to observe proceedings when Lissu appeared in court on April 15. Human rights organizations have raised concerns over a crackdown on opposition activities in Tanzania, especially with presidential and parliamentary elections approaching in October. Lissu, leader of the main opposition Chadema party, faces a treason charge and cannot seek bail, with the maximum penalty being death. Lissu, who survived an assassination attempt in 2017 after being shot 16 times, was arrested in April following a rally demanding electoral reforms. Since his arrest, Chadema has been prohibited from participating in the October elections due to its refusal to sign a code of conduct mandated by the electoral commission. The code requires parties to ensure peace and harmony during the elections, but Chadema views it as a tactic to suppress opposition. The ruli ng CCM party, governing Tanzania since 1977, is expected to continue its hold on power. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who gained recognition for enhancing political freedoms after assuming office in 2021, is anticipated to be the party's presidential candidate.