Suba North member of parliament (MP) Millie Odhiambo has urged Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu to release opposition leader Tundu Lisu.
In a statement shared on her Facebook page on Monday May 19, 2025, the Suba North MP noted that President Suluhu has her supporters and should allow opposition leader Tundu Lissu to get his supporters.
“Let Tundu Lisu get his supporters. You have your own. Use the natural nurturing and caring roles to hold one to account but without bending rules. I am not giving up on you. You carry a torch beyond Tanzania. You are me. I am you. We are women. Let’s do different,” read part of Millie Odhiambo’s statement.
At the same time, the MP recalled how she was privileged and honored to meet President Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania last year.
“As a woman rights champion and specifically a champion of women in leadership, her rise to the presidency was indeed a feather in our cap.
“I am doubly thrilled that the Speaker, Hon Tulia Ackson, who is also the IPU President, is a woman.
“Both of you have made us proud as a continent. You have achieved what has eluded supper powers like the U.S,” she stated.
Odhiambo, commonly referred to as “Bad Gal” explained that she was pleased when President Suluhu specifically asked to talk to her.
“That is how I met her. It is in this spirit of a buddie that I acknowledge leadership is not easy. It is in this space that we shall watch your back and also seek to straighten paths that may be bending or mending,” she explained.
She further emphasized that it does not cost anything for people, especially human rights lawyers and activists to stand with Tundu Lisu while he is undergoing trial.
In addition, the MP noted that it costs President Suluhu a bad image when she picked the tried and tired masculine approach to leadership that is oppressive.
“Please make us proud. Do us proud. Do different. Be different. The nurturing and caring roles have been seen as a weakness, but are indeed strengths.”
Her remarks emerged a few hours after former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, activist Hanifa Adan and Hussein Khalid were detained at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Tanzania.
They had travelled to the neighbouring country in solidarity with detained opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is facing treason charges.
This comes a day after People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua and two Kenyan lawyers were denied entry into Tanzania and deported to Nairobi.
