Nakuru at crossroads: Tabitha Karanja on leadership, brewing political battle

Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja’s journey from the helm of Keroche Breweries to the floor of the Senate was not accidental.

She says, it was forged in struggle, years of navigating hostile policy environments and regulatory roadblocks while building one of Kenya’s most recognisable manufacturing brands.

“I went through immense challenges building Keroche over twenty-five years,” Karanja says.

“Many of those challenges were policy-related and registration hurdles, regulations designed without local entrepreneurs in mind. At some point, I realised that instead of fighting policy from the outside, I needed to be at the table where those decisions are made,” she said.

She insists the transition into politics was driven by reform, not self-preservation.

“I did not get into politics to protect my business,” she says firmly.

“By the time I joined politics, Keroche had already gone through its cycles. It was strong enough to stand on its own and move to the next level,” she added.

As Senator of Nakuru County, Karanja holds an oversight mandate, and she is unsparing in her assessment of Governor Susan Kihika’s performance.

Asked to rate the governor on a scale of one to ten, her answer is blunt:

“Zero,” she says. “Absolutely nothing has been done,” she adds.

She argues that despite Nakuru receiving substantial allocations from the national government, residents have little to show for it.

“The county receives a lot of money, but there is nothing tangible on the ground. I challenge the governor to come out and show Kenyans what she has done, from Naivasha to Kuresoi.” She said.

Her harshest criticism is reserved for the state of maternal healthcare in the county.

“Maternity services are terrible and completely undignified. You find three women sharing a bed. No woman, no mother, should ever be forced to give birth under such conditions,’ she says.

Despite both leaders being affiliated with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), Karanja makes it clear that party membership has not translated into unity.

Karanja speaks warmly of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, describing him as both a confidant and a steadfast ally during her most difficult battles.

“Raila Odinga was a very good friend of mine. We came from similar backgrounds, building businesses in very unconducive environments. He understood exactly what I was going through,” she said.

She recalls leaning on his counsel during moments when the pressure threatened to overwhelm her.

“I consulted him a lot. He really fought for me and stood with me when it mattered. He believed that local entrepreneurs deserved respect, protection, and a fair chance to compete,” she said.