Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has blocked Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Babu Owino from entering Tanzania.
In a letter dated February 3, the MP formally wrote to Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan through the country’s ambassador in Kenya, seeking clarification on why he was denied entry into the East African country.
According to him, he was also detained at Julius Nyerere International Airport in December 2024.
In his letter, Babu states that upon arrival at Dar es Salaam’s airport, immigration officials rejected his passport and informed him that he had been declared persona non grata in Tanzania.
“I write to bring to your attention that when I recently visited Tanzania in December 2024 upon arrival at the airport in Dar es Salaam, your immigration officers rejected my passport and casually informed me that I am on the list of persona non grata in Tanzania.
“In total violation of my rights to freedom of movement, they detained me for some time at Julius Nyerere International Airport,” wrote the MP.
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Further, he expresses concern over what he said was a violation of his right to free movement, as stated in international agreements and the East African Community (EAC) Treaty.
Babu Owino is now requesting a formal explanation regarding the reasons behind his entry ban, particularly considering his official duties, business engagements, and longstanding ties with the people of Tanzania.
“I am a citizen of the East African Community, specifically Kenya, for that matter. I am an elected Member of the Kenyan Parliament, which is duly represented in EALA, whose seat is in Tanzania.
“Both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) guarantee persons rights of movement into and out of nations upon following due process, which I did,” added the letter.
Moreover, the Embakasi East MP indicated that the East African Treaty and the East African Community Common Market regulations guarantee the free movement of citizens within partner states.
Despite fulfilling all legal requirements, he stated that he was informed upon arrival in Tanzania that he was unwelcome, leading to his temporary detention.
Similarly, the East African Treaty and the East African Community Common Market (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations provide for the free movement of citizens of partner states.
“Lastly, Kenya, as a sovereign state, issues travelling passports to her citizens, which are recognized by other states under international law. All those rights and fundamental freedoms apply to me as a citizen of this planet,” he added.
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