The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has demanded that the government of Kenya write to their counterparts in Tanzania seeking clarification on why members of the council, led by Senior Counsel Martha Karua, were detained and deported back to the country on Sunday morning.
Speaking exclusively to Kenyans.co.ke, LSK President Faith Odhiambo, observed that the government should write a protest letter to the neighbouring country, indicating that the development could jeopardise the diplomatic relations. ''We demand that the government should reach out to the Tanzanian counterparts with immediate effect since we have diplomatic relations that are anchored on an agreement,'' Odhiambo stated. ''We believe that there should be ultimately no valid reason as to why our members who are members of the EAC community and the bar can be detained without any explanation.'' Odhiambo further stated that the decision by Tanzania was uncalled for, insisting that there should be free movement of persons within the East Africa Community. She also called on Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'Oei to urgently intervene in the matter to ensure justice is served. ''This is quite unfortunate that, though we should be enjoying free movement of persons within the East African region, Kenyans can be detained for merely being lawyers.
I hope Sing'Oei Korir can urgently intervene,'' she added.
Former President of LSK Nelson Havi also condemned the incident, questioning the purpose of the EAC, urging President William Ruto to take up the matter with Tanzanian counterpart Samia Suluhu.
