Kenya on spot over attempts to deport fleeing Tanzanian politician and his family

NAIROBI,Kenya Nov, 9 – Kenyan authorities have been accused of attempting to forcibly deport Tanzanian opposition politician Godbless Lema and his family back to their country, despite the risk of being prosecuted.

The politician is wanted by the Tanzanian authorities according to the lobby group and he is likely to face, “political persecution and likely imprisonment.”

In a statement, Amnesty international-Kenya Executive Director Irungu Houghton on Monday asked the Kenyan authorities to grant the politician refuge, as required by the law.

“Kenya must not violate the internationally recognised principle of non-refoulement. The international principal is upheld by our own national laws. It prohibits Kenya from turning away people at the border or returning them to a country where they would be at risk of persecution or danger,” he said.

According to Prof. George Wajackoyah, who is the legal counsel representing the politician, “Godbless Lema very recently fled to Kenya with his wife and three children seeking asylum from the Kenyan government.”

They crossed from Tanzania through the Namanga border post on Sunday.

“We believe he is in the custody of the National Police Service in Kajiado and he may likely be deported,” the lawyer said.

Lema is the immediate former Member of Parliament for Arusha Urban Constituency.

He was arrested and later released on police bond without charge by Tanzanian authorities in the aftermath of the October 28 elections in which President John Magufuli was re-elected in a landslide victory disputed by the opposition.

Opposition parties including Chadema, ACT-Wazalendo and Civic United Front rejected the results and called for fresh elections.

Observers and the International Community have equally raised credibility issues and called for inquiry.

Since the election,opposition politicians and protesters have faced arbitrary arrests and violence meted on them by Tanzanian authorities.

“Transferring Godbless Lema back to Tanzania, a country where he risks facing serious human rights violations, would itself amount to a human rights violation. The Government of Kenya is obligated to protect and provide sanctuary to Hon. Lema and his family,” Irungu said.

Attempts are underway to have the politician and his family processed as asylum seekers according to he Refugee convention and other related treaties which Kenya is a signatory.