Tanzania’s opposition politician and immediate former Arusha Urban Constituency Godbless Lema has been granted asylum in Kenya by the Kenyan government.
The ex-MP was released unconditionally on Monday, November 9th from Kajiado Police Station where he was being held after being arrested on Sunday.
Lema was arrested on November 8th at Ilbisil with his family (his wife Neema Godbless and their three children) as he tried to flee Tanzania and taken into protective custody of the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHCR).
According to sources, Lema and his family boarded a taxi from his home to the Namanga border where Immigration officers refused to stamp their documents.
Mr. Lema then convinced the officers they were just crossing to Kenya to search for an international school for their children, they then allowed his family to cross the border but blocked him due to the lack of a passport.
Using Wit, he requested that he be allowed to go change some money into Kenyan currency, immediately after reaching the Kenyan side of the border, the whole family entered George Luchiri Wajackoyah’s car who is their lawyer, and fled.
They were pursued to Ilbisil where they were arrested.
He thanked the Kenyan government for its intervention into the matter, insisting that his life is in danger back in Tanzania.
Tanzania’s opposition Under Siege
Tanzania’s opposition presidential candidate in the just-concluded General election, Tundu Lissu, is currently hiding at the German embassy in Dar es Salaam.
Lissu who was vying on a Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo ticket has been seeking refuge at the German ambassador’s residence since Monday, November 2 after claiming that his life is in danger.
Negotiations are underway to have him flown to Belgium where he wants to seek asylum for his safety.
