Human rights defender Hussein Khalid has denied claims that he and other activists were paid to travel to Tanzania during opposition leader Tundu Lissu’s court hearing.

Speaking on Spice FM on Wednesday, May 28, Khalid clarified that all activists who went to Tanzania did so at their own expense, insisting the trip was an act of solidarity with Lissu.

“A good number of people who traveled on that day used their own resources, including myself. People use their own money for solidarity because colleagues across the border, when they say, look, you know, we are having this case, it’s an election year, people even observe elections all over the world. This is part of that electioneering process. And we have no problem with that,” he said.

“What interest do we have? I mean, what will we get by destabilizing Tanzania? What do you get by destabilizing any country, for that matter? Absolutely nothing,” Khalid added.

His remarks come just days after a team of Kenyan activists was deported by Tanzanian authorities.

Among those deported were Martha Karua, former Chief Justice David Maraga, and activist Boniface Mwangi.

According to Khalid, the narrative that they were funded to cause chaos in Tanzania is a political strategy employed by the government.

“It is a fallacy. And this is what governments play on every time there’s an issue, because they think that is an agenda that would sell to the public.”

He further challenged critics to be fair and also question Tanzanians who visit Kenya.

“When they come because you’re saying we’ve been given money, but when they come themselves, you’re not saying anything. Yeah. So we said, okay, in solidarity, we are East African cooperation,” said Khalid.