Kenya opposition has called for release of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who was arrested and charged with treason on Thursday for calling for reforms before presidential election scheduled for October this year.

Lissue was arrested after he addressed a public rally at which he called for electoral reforms, insisting “No Reforms, No Election”, a rallying that has reportedly unsettled the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi, in power since 1961 – more than 60 years ago.

The arrest was immediately condemned by opposition supporters inside outside Tanzania and worryingly, it has raised fears of violence similar to what was witnessed in 2000 in Unguja and Pemba islands.

There are comparisons of recent political developments in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania – the founding members of the East African Community economic bloc – that gains made in political pluralism are being undermined by the current regimes. In Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni’s perennial political rival Kizza Besigye was abducted in Nairobi, Kenya and clandestinely ferried to Uganda where he is facing treason charges in an ad hoc military court.

In Kenya, senior counsel and People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua has condemned the arrest of Lissu, describing it as unfortunate, unacceptable and a form of repression against political competition in a general election year.

“’Release Tundu Lissu. This is an unacceptable repression of competition in an election year,” Karua posted on X – formerly Twitter.

Lissu, chairperson of the main opposition party CHADEMA, was arrested on Wednesday night over what regional police called incitement. The opposition in Tanzania has been calling for electoral reforms to ensure the upcoming poll is free and fair. Lissu on Thursday afternoon arrived at the Kisutu magistrate’s court in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam appearing in high spirits and in the company of his lawyers and opposition party politicians.

The opposition leader was forced into a police vehicle late on Wednesday after he had just finished addressing a public rally in Mbinga, more than 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) south of the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.

“I came here, we held a peaceful meeting, and now I understand the tactics of the police. We are now clear on the situation; I will not enter the vehicle. There is no need for that. We will sleep here. What is the problem?” Lissu asked the police, moments before his supporters were teargassed.

Following the arrest, human rights campaigners accused President Samia Suluhu’s government of targeting opposition figures ahead of the national elections set for later this year.

Lissu was charged with treason a day after his arrest, with the charges connected to his nationwide campaign pushing for electoral reform under the slogan “No Reforms, No Election”.

In the “No Reforms, No Election” campaign, Lissu has been demanding that the election body in the country be reconstituted to exclude people who were selected by President Suluhu.

In 2017, three years before the last election, Lissu survived an assassination attempt after being shot 16 times.

Tanzania is set to elect the president and members of parliament in the October elections. CHADEMA has been critical of the absence of an independent electoral commission and laws that favour the ruling party, CCM, which has been in power since Tanzania’s independence in 1961.

• A Tell Media / AP report