Tension flared outside the Tanzanian consulate in Kenya’s coastal city of Mombasa on Monday as human rights activists staged a protest to demand the immediate and unconditional release of three detained Kenyan nationals, including former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga.

The activists were dismayed that Tanzanian President Suluhu Hassan had become a despot apprehensive of losing power in a fair and free election. Instead, they accused her of resorting to undemocratic and unconstitutional means to retain power at all costs.

They accuse the Tanzanian president of “suffocating democracy” in the East African Community.

Tanzanian Elections Commission has locked President Suluhu Hassan’s main challenger, Tundu Lissu – who faces treason charges – out of the election. The treason case has elicited massive international interest.

The trio of Dr Mutunga, Hussein Khalid and Hanifa Adan, were initially detained at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam for more than 12 hours before being dispatched back to Nairobi. Their arrest comes just a day after prominent lawyer and opposition leader Martha Karua, along with two associates, was deported from Tanzania under controversial circumstances.

Kenyan lawyers and human rights activists have taken a keen interest in the trial of Lissu, who faces a death sentence if convicted of treason by the court. Lissu has and his party Chadema have further been barred from this year’s general election scheduled for October.

Chadema has been calling for constitutional and electoral reforms before the next election but the governing Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and President Suluhu Hassan have scoffed at the demands, which they condemned as treasonous, hence the case against Lissu.

The detained Kenyans were part of a civil society mission to observe judicial proceedings against Tundu Lissu, raising concerns about regional cooperation and the state of democracy in Tanzania. Kenyan activists are angry that President Suluhu Hassan, who is yet to be tested in a competitive presidential election is using unconstitutional and illegal tactics to supress the opposition.

Suluhu Hassan, the first woman president in East Africa would have tested her mettle and perceived popularity against the combined Tanzanian opposition – on the ruling Chama Cha Mapindizi, in power since independence in 1961 – if Lissu were to run.

With Lissu barred from the race, she stands a chance of retaining the seat she inherited from John Pombe Magufuli, who died in office. Her presidency, though, has been marked with contraction of civil liberties including freedom of expression and gagging of the opposition and media, raising questions about her human rights records that propelled her to political power, first in Zanzibar before becoming president of Tanzania.

Efforts by Muslim for Human Rights (MUHURI) to engage with Tanzanian consular officials in Mombasa were unsuccessful as officials reportedly refused to open the gates to the delegation.

“We were denied access. We call on Tanzania to release the detained Kenyans in the spirit of East African Community,” said MUHURI’s Rapid Response Officer Francis Auma.

Haki Africa Senior Project Manager Salma Hemed criticised the Tanzanian government for what she described as a violation of basic human rights.

“The arbitrary detention and deportation of observers show blatant disregard for democratic norms,” Ms Hemed said.

Michael Nato, another protester, called on Tanzania to initiate electoral reforms, which he said are essential to addressing the ongoing political unrest between the ruling party and opposition forces.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Sadik Hassan