Latest news with #MarthaKarua
South China Morning Post
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Kenya author Ngugi wa Thiong'o, one of Africa's literary greats, dies at 87
Kenyan author Ngugi wa Thiong'o, considered one of east Africa's greatest literary figures, died on Wednesday, his daughter announced on social media. He was 87. 'It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our dad, Ngugi wa Thiong'o this Wednesday morning,' wrote Wanjiku Wa Ngugi. 'He lived a full life, fought a good fight,' she added. Messages of support and respect quickly poured in for the celebrated author, whose decision to stop writing in English and start using only his native Kikuyu made him a powerful symbol of postcolonial African identity. 'My condolences to the family and friends professor Ngugi wa Thiong'o, a renowned literary giant and scholar, a son of the soil and great patriot whose footprints are indelible,' wrote Martha Karua, an opposition leader in Kenya, on social media. A social activist, Thiong'o served as a distinguished professor of English and comparative literature at the University of California-Irvine for more than two decades and penned a number of plays and short stories in addition to his novels. His most acclaimed works include Petals of Blood, a 1977 book chiding Kenya's emerging class of post-independence elites for exploiting the poor, and Wizard of the Crow, which examined the legacy of colonialism and was published in 2006, more than two decades after he had moved abroad.
First Post
26-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Kenya's Former Justice Minister Martha Karua Deported From Tanzania Firstpost Africa
Kenya's Former Justice Minister Martha Karua Deported From Tanzania | Firstpost Africa | N18G Kenya's Former Justice Minister Martha Karua Deported From Tanzania | Firstpost Africa | N18G Kenyan lawyer and presidential candidate Martha Karua was deported from Tanzania. She was there to defend opposition leader Tindu Lissu, who is facing treason charges and was due to face a trial on Monday. The vocal critic of the alleged backsliding democracy in eastern Africa, Karua said she was stopped at the Dar es Salaam airport with her group and was put on a flight out the same day. The Kenyan leader lashed out at the Tanzanian government, accusing President Samia Suluhu Hassan's party of subverting the law to lock up the main contenders ahead of the October election. She also represents Ugandan leader Kizza Besigye, facing treason charges. Karua is preparing to run for the 2027 Kenyan presidential election. She faces competition from several opponents, who hope to take on President William Ruto. See More
Associated Press
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Tanzania's most prominent opposition leader appears in court on charges of treason
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AP) — Tanzania's most prominent opposition leader appeared in court Monday to face treason charges after calling for electoral reforms ahead of October's general election. A conviction for treason carries a death penalty. But a high-spirited Tundu Lissu wore a T-shirt reading 'no reforms, no election' — echoing the call that led to his April 9 arrest after addressing a public rally. Lissu had embarked on a hunger strike to protest making a virtual court appearance instead of being allowed to show up in person. The politician, chair of the opposition Chadema party, survived an assassination attempt in 2017 and has spent part of his time in exile since then over threats to his life. Lissu during his court appearance encouraged supporters not to be afraid, and made victory gestures. Investigators asked for two more weeks to complete investigations. The trial will proceed on June 2. Supporters of Lissu have faced a crackdown. A Kenyan opposition politician, Martha Karua, who arrived in Tanzania ahead of the hearing, was deported. A former Kenyan chief justice, Willy Mutunga, and three Kenyan activists were detained. Kenya's foreign ministry secretary Korir Sing'oei on Monday called for the release of Mutunga and his delegation. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan's administration has been accused by human rights activists of using heavy-handed tactics against the opposition. The government denies the claims. Hassan will be running for another term in the October election, which also will choose members of parliament. The Chadema party has been critical of the absence of an independent electoral commission and laws that it says favor the ruling party, CCM, which has been in power since Tanzania's independence in 1961.
CNN
19-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Tanzanian opposition leader appears in court for treason trial
Tanzania's main opposition leader Tundu Lissu told his supporters to have no fear as he appeared in court on Monday for the first time since his arrest on charges that include treason. Lissu refused to participate in a hearing on April 24 because authorities conducted a virtual, rather than an in-person trial, with him appearing via video link from prison. On Monday he entered the court with his fist raised in the air as supporters chanted 'No Reforms, No Election,' according to a video of the courtroom shared by his CHADEMA party on X. 'We will be fine. You should not fear,' Lissu said as he took his place in the dock, waving victory signs. Lissu, who was shot 16 times in a 2017 attack and came second in the last presidential poll, was charged with treason last month over what prosecutors said was a speech calling upon the public to rebel and disrupt elections due in October. A series of high-profile arrests has highlighted the rights record of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who plans to seek re-election. Hassan says the government is committed to respecting human rights. Lissu's CHADEMA party has demanded changes to an electoral process they say favors the ruling party before they participate in the ballot. Several Kenyan rights activists, including a former justice minister, said they were denied entry to Tanzania as they traveled to attend the trial. Kenya's former Justice Minister Martha Karua, a prominent lawyer and opposition politician, and former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga were among those detained when they landed at Tanzania's Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, they said on X. Tanzania's immigration spokesperson Paul Mselle did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 'Today was going to be a big day and we went out there in solidarity,' Karua told Kenyan broadcaster NTV on Monday after she was denied entry and sent back to Nairobi. 'The state cannot be used as a personal tool. You cannot deport people whom you don't like, who are not aligned to your views.' Mutunga and rights activist Hussein Khalid were being held in an interrogation room at Julius Nyerere airport on Monday and expected to be deported, Khalid said on X.
Reuters
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Tanzanian opposition leader appears in court for treason trial
NAIROBI, May 19 (Reuters) - Tanzania's main opposition leader Tundu Lissu told his supporters to have no fear as he appeared in court on Monday for the first time since his arrest on charges that include treason. Lissu refused to participate in a hearing on April 24 because authorities conducted a virtual, rather than an in-person trial, with him appearing via video link from prison. On Monday he entered the court with his fist raised in the air as supporters chanted "No Reforms, No Election", according to a video of the courtroom shared by his CHADEMA party on X. "We will be fine. You should not fear," Lissu said as he took his place in the dock, waving victory signs. Lissu, who was shot 16 times in a 2017 attack and came second in the last presidential poll, was charged with treason last month over what prosecutors said was a speech calling upon the public to rebel and disrupt elections due in October. A series of high-profile arrests has highlighted the rights record of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who plans to seek re-election. Hassan says the government is committed to respecting human rights. Lissu's CHADEMA party has demanded changes to an electoral process they say favours the ruling party before they participate in the ballot. Several Kenyan rights activists, including a former justice minister, said they were denied entry to Tanzania as they travelled to attend the trial. Kenya's former Justice Minister Martha Karua, a prominent lawyer and opposition politician, and former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga were among those detained when they landed at Tanzania's Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, they said on X. Tanzania's immigration spokesperson Paul Mselle did not immediately respond to requests for comment. "Today was going to be a big day and we went out there in solidarity," Karua told Kenyan broadcaster NTV on Monday after she was denied entry and sent back to Nairobi. "The state cannot be used as a personal tool. You cannot deport people whom you don't like, who are not aligned to your views." Mutunga and rights activist Hussein Khalid were being held in an interrogation room at Julius Nyerere airport on Monday and expected to be deported, Khalid said on X.
