NARC Kenya Party Leader Martha Karua has managed to resuscitate her political career after a series of missteps and blunders that almost crushed her dreams for good.
The outspoken former Gicugu lawmaker has, within a short period of time, redefined her political trajectory and emerged as a strong national leader with influence enough to become Kenya’s first female deputy president.
Known for her tough stand persistence in everything she does, Karua has kept her head high and confronted every troubling situation without batting an eye.
Political setbacks
In 2017, the former Minister for Legal and Constitution Affairs was floored by Anne Waiguru in a hotly contested Kirinyaga gubernatorial seat.
The loss came barely five years after being humiliated in the 2013 presidential election where she came a distant fourth.
Prior to this, the former lawmaker had been frustrated by former president Mwai Kibaki’s government and forced to resign even after fighting tooth and nail to defend the ex-president’s 2007 controversial victory.
For more than 10 years now, Karua has been consigned in the cold, and her once shining political career has been waning drastically.
Even in her own Kirinyaga backyard, chances of beating her competitors have been shrinking every day, with analysts rating Waiguru and Woman Rep Purity Ngirici as top contenders in the gubernatorial race.
Turning things around
However, Karua has managed to turn things around within a short period of time and is now one of the top politicians being considered for a running mate position by Raila Odinga’s camp.
Last week Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, who has been a close ally of Deputy President William Ruto until recently, endorsed the former Gichugu MP for the DP’s position.
“When I look around, no one can tie the shoelaces of Martha Karua in terms of making sure the risk these people pose does not interfere in the governance of the country,” said Kuria.
He added: “Deputy Presidency is not a seat you vie for, why would we let all of Martha’s experience go down the drain? She can tell us about the Serena Talks, Koffi Annan, the clamor for multiparty politics, or her time as the Minister for Justice, that is experience”.
The endorsement came barely two months after the Mt Kenya Unity Forum unanimously voted her to head and speak on behalf of the group.
On Friday, November 5, a group of women leaders led by Nairobi Woman Rep Esther Passaris, Gender CAS Racheal Shabesh, businesswoman Agnes Kagure visited Karua and vowed to support her political course.
Karua has also been leading negations involving Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana and former United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) boss Mukhisa Kituyi.
The three were part of the movement of young Turks who fought for the second liberation that saved the country from sinking into a dictatorship and a one-party state.
Her record as an accomplished lawyer, human rights defender, and political activist has endeared her to supporters of Raila, who was part of the liberation movement that salvaged Kenya from crumbling into a tyrant state.
Political analyst Javas Bigambo agrees the former Justice and Legal Affairs minister has all it takes to become Kenya’s first female deputy president if accorded the chance.
“Martha Karua is a serious political player with an impeccable track record as a lawyer and human rights activist. She has the reputation, character, and boldness of a lioness that’s required in Kenya’s murk politics, Karua can face off with anyone without feeling intimidated, and that’s a great character for a person who wants to be a deputy president. She stands a good chance and I would love to see her and many other women considered for the position,” said Bigambo who doubles up as a Law and lecturer.
With the increasing clamor for women’s representation in high offices, especially the deputy president’s office in the upcoming election, Karua stands out as the most formidable and qualified candidate for the position.
If picked as running mate by either side of the political divide, chances are she would be of great value compared to the choice of a male counterpart.
Further, having a woman running mate could motivate women to vote and change the country’s political analyst dynamics.
