The ODM leader Raila Odinga has claimed that Martha Karua had limited options in terms of settling a political side she will work with ahead of the upcoming General Election.
Speaking at Serena Hotel on Wednesday, March 23 as he welcomed Katua to Azimio la Umoja movement, Raila said there was no way the NARC-Kenya leader could have settled on Kenya Kwanza defacto leader William Ruto as her preferred presidential candidate.
According to the ODM leader, Karua could not have chosen DP William Ruto as he is anti-reformist.
” I don’t think she (Martha Karua) had any other choice, because the difference between this side (Azimio la Umoja) and the other side( Kenya Kwanza Alliancw) is like day and night, black or white,” Raila said.
The ODM leader recounted the role of Martha Karua in the second liberation of the county, in the early 1990’s saying she is a general in the struggle.
“Martha Karua has paid a heavy price in the struggle for the second liberation of this country; she stood firm when very few dared,” Raila added.
Raila spoke during the press conference where Karua, who is also a gubernatorial aspirant for Kirinyaga County officially joined Azimio la Umoja.
Speaking earlier on, Karua revealed that her move was influenced by Raila’s selflessness and history of putting the interest of the nation above any other things.
2007 presidential election
“All sides have people who do not believe in the rule of law, and all sides have good people. I have been looking keenly and,
“I have been able without much struggle to identify a critical mass of good people within the Azimio coalition. And that is all that is needed for the liberation in this country,” Karua said.
Even though Karua’s move is not by surprise, the two have not been reading from the same script since 2007.
In the 2007 presidential elections, Karua strongly opposed Raila’s claims that his elections had been stolen by then-President Mwai Kibaki.
Most recently, they differed on the BBI constitutional amendment when Karua through Linda Katiba’s initiative vehemently opposed the BBI process.
Karua was among the lawyers who represented the parties opposed to the BBI initiative at the Court of Appeal.
What remains to be seen is whether Karua will be named Raila’s running mate in the coming elections.