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The Nairobian

Locked out why? Babu Owino asks Suluhu after ban

National

By Winfrey Owino | Feb 03, 2025

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino addressing participants during the 16 days of Activism December 4, 2024. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has written to Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu, demanding an explanation after he was denied entry into the country.

This comes days after the lawmaker was detained at Julius Nyerere International Airport for hours after jetting into the country.

In a letter dated February 3, Babu argued that he is an East African Community (EAC) citizen and has the right to move around the region without restrictions.

He explains that he was denied entry despite following the due process.

“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,” the letter reads in part.

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“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. 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,”

Babu says he visited Tanzania in December 2024 but upon arrival, his passport was confiscated and later on informed that he was not wanted in the country.

“I am placing this special request to your office to appraise me in writing on the reasons why I am not allowed to enter Tanzania,”