Kenyan lawyer for Tanzania opposition leader arrested: spokesperson

NAIROBI, KENYA - Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua, a presidential candidate who also represents opposition figures on trial in neighbouring countries, was arrested in Tanzania on Sunday, a spokesperson told AFP.

Karua has been representing Tanzanian opposition leader Tindu Lissu who is on trial for treason, facing a possible death penalty, and is due in court on Monday.

The trial comes as Tanzania prepares for elections in October.

Karua "was detained at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, questioned for three hours, her passport was confiscated and she is awaiting deportation", a spokesperson told AFP.

A former justice minister in Kenya, Karua has been vocal about "democratic backsliding" in the East Africa region.

She has also been representing Ugandan opposition Kizza Besigye, who was kidnapped in Kenya last year and taken back to his home country to also face treason charges.

Uganda holds elections in January.