Tanzanian Politician Hides Entire Family in Kenyan Police Station

Police officers and citizens pictured outside Kasarani Police Station.
Police officers and citizens pictured outside Kasarani Police Station, Nairobi County.
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Nation

UPDATE Monday, November 9: Former Arusha Urban Constituency MP Godbless Lema was released from Kajiado Police Station

His lawyer George Luchiri Wajackoyah also confirmed that he was also allowed to live in Kenya under asylum.

Lema had been arrested dramatically while fleeing Tanzania in search of assylum claiming that his life was in danger.


UPDATE: Former Arusha Urban Constituency MP Godbless Lema, was arrested after arriving in Kenya through the Namanga Border.

A report Uby The Standard indicated that he was arrested at Ilbissil in Kajiado County after his wife presented documents to immigration officers but were turned down. 

The former MP was arrested when he showed up without a passport and explained that his wife was travelling in search of an international school.


Tanzanian politician and his entire family has sought refuge in Kenya.

A report by Daily Nation on Monday, November 9, indicated that the politician, a former Arusha Urban Constituency MP Godbless Lema, flew to the country after claiming that his life was in danger.

His lawyer George Luchiri Wajackoyah, had noted the the former MP was ready to die in the Kenyan police station than in his mother country.

“I have handed him over to the Kenyan police for processing. He is ready to die in a Kenyan jail than by the Tanzanian police who are still pursuing him as we speak,” stated the lawyer.

Former Arusha Urban MConstituency MP Godbless Lema gives a speech
Former Arusha Urban MConstituency MP Godbless Lema gives a speech.
Daily Nation

Lema was received by Kajiado Police officers and was scheduled to spend two nights in the police cells.

The politician had earlier been arrested alongside other Tanzanian politicians following the controversial October elections in which Magufuli was declared winner by the country's electoral body.

He was later freed on bond, and without any charges.

Tanzania's opposition leader Tundu Lisu who was President John Magufuli's main competitor in the just concluded elections is reportedly hiding inside German Embassy after claiming that his life was in danger.

Tundu told international media outlets that police officers were after him, and that a directive to kill him had been issued.

"I will be here until my safety is guaranteed. I don't like staying here. I have nothing to do here. I am a busy person with a lot of things to do.

"So I want to leave here as fast as possible and unfortunately, I cannot know when this can happen. Because those who are supposed to ensure my safety seem not to want to commit themselves that when I come out, I shall be safe," he told DW.

In the elections, Magufuli won 84% of the vote while Lissu managed 13%, and would proceed to dispute the elections.

Lissu, in 2007, survived an alleged assassination attempt after he was shot at multiple times while in his car.

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Tanzania President John Pombe Magufuli being sworn in for his second term on Friday, November 5, 2020, in Dodoma, Tanzania
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