Senior Kenyan lawyer and presidential aspirant Martha Karua has departed Entebbe International Airport and is en route to Nairobi after being detained and denied entry into Uganda by immigration authorities earlier on Monday.
In a statement issued by her director of communication, it was confirmed that she had been released and placed on a return flight to Kenya following hours of being held at Entebbe Airport.
“We can confirm that Presidential Aspirant and Senior Counsel Martha Karua has departed Entebbe and is en route to Nairobi following her detention and denial of entry by Ugandan authorities earlier today,” the statement read.
The communication further indicated that Karua will address the media shortly after arrival in Nairobi. Journalists have been invited to attend a briefing scheduled for 4:00 PM at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
“Members of the media are invited to a press briefing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 4:00 PM upon her arrival, where she will address the circumstances surrounding her detention, denial of entry, and subsequent release,” the statement added.
Karua had travelled to Uganda as part of a legal team linked to ongoing high-profile proceedings involving Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.
She is also associated with defence teams in cases involving opposition political figures in Uganda.
According to the communication team, the incident raises concerns about democratic freedoms and the rule of law within the East African Community.
“The incident raises serious questions about the observance of the rule of law and the state of democratic freedoms within the East African Community,” the statement said.
The circumstances under which Karua was denied entry remain unclear, with Ugandan authorities yet to issue an official explanation.
She was reportedly stopped at the immigration desk at Entebbe Airport and held for several hours before being escorted onto a return flight.
Karua, a former Kenyan Cabinet minister and long-time human rights advocate, has frequently been involved in regional legal and political matters, often appearing in cases linked to opposition figures.
The incident has drawn attention across the region, with legal and political observers questioning the handling of her entry and subsequent deportation.
Karua is expected to speak at JKIA upon arrival, where further details of the incident are anticipated.