Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has said Tanzania acted within its sovereign rights in deporting several Kenyan political figures and activists, adding that Kenya had no role in the decision.

Mwaura was responding to the recent deportation of People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua, former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, and four other activists from Tanzania.

“If the government of one of the member states of the East African Community decides to deny an individual entry into their country, it has the authority to do so,” Mwaura stated.

He emphasized that the Kenyan government respects the autonomy of fellow  East African Community member states and does not interfere with their internal decisions.

“If they have decided so, that’s their decision. We do not know why they would restrain someone, and Kenya’s government has no involvement,” he added.

On Sunday, Karua and two others were deported back to Kenya, while Mutunga, along with rights activists Hussein Khalid and Hanifa Adan, were detained upon arrival at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam.

Activist Boniface Mwangi has also claimed that his life is in danger after armed men who said they were police officers tried to force him out of his hotel room in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, without showing identification

In contrast, former Chief Justice David Maraga arrived in Tanzania without incident on Monday and is expected to serve as an observer in the high-profile treason trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu.