Raila: Why I picked Martha Karua as my running mate

Raila: Why I picked Martha Karua as my running mate

Raila Odinga unveils NARC-Kenya Party leader Martha Karua as his running mate.

“This woman is a fighter and not a quitter.”


Those are the words Azimio La Umoja coalition presidential flag bearer Raila Odinga used in describing NARC-Kenya Party leader Martha Karua while unveiling her as his running mate in the forthcoming August General Election.

Karua was picked from a list of 11 individuals who were interviewed by a selection panel constituted to advise and help the Azimio coalition flag bearer select a running mate.

In a much-anticipated address at KICC, Nairobi, Odinga bore it all out to the country on why he picked Karua as his running mate describing her as “a fighter, safe pair of hands and a woman with a beautiful soul.”

The ODM party leader recounted instances when Karua fearlessly supported him during the fight for constitutional change in the country.

“The woman we offer as proposed DP is known to have incredible credentials in the fight for our second liberation. In 1990, for instance, I was arrested and placed in detention without trial. At that time very few lawyers were prepared to defend me. But this woman, then a young lawyer, led a team of 27 lawyers to defend my legal detention,” said Odinga.

He added: “When I moved a motion in Parliament to set up a select committee on Constitution reforms and was deserted by my colleagues in the opposition, only she and the late Joyce Moseti Anyona stood by me… This woman is a fighter and not a quitter.”

The former prime minister described Karua as a safe pair of hands for the country owing to her push during the struggle for the country’s second liberation as well as her service to the country in many capacities.

Odinga was categorical that Karua would indeed be remarkable deputy president.

“This woman has a beautiful soul as exhibited by her love and passion for her children and grandchildren… This woman will be a great co-creator and will make a remarkable first (woman) deputy president of the republic of Kenya,” he said.

In nominating Karua as his deputy, Odinga said she would also be the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Constitutional Affairs should they form the next government.

“As a co-worker I want her to finalise the work of making our Constitution. I want this done because when the late Kibaki and I admitted that our constitution was a work in progress… Because I am a man of my words, I will task her with the assignment of completing what we started and I am persuaded that she has the right pair of hands to accomplish this task,” said Odinga.

And to much applause from a huge crowd gathered at KICC, Odinga finally unveiled his running mate:

“My dear Kenyans... Cometh the hour, cometh the lady. I have the great honour to announce that I have picked as my running mate and Minister for Justice and Constitutional affairs Martha Wangari Karua.”

 In her acceptance speech, Karua committed to fully supporting Odinga as she assured of her readiness and capacity to be the country’s second-in-command.

Karua termed the appointment as a historic moment for women in Kenya.

“This nomination is truly a collective honour that cannot be left for me alone to savour, a personal as well as national journey,” said the NARC-Kenya party leader.

“Baba has allocated me duties in advance and I want to confirm that I am ready, able and willing for those duties, I will not let you down. I will be steadfast, diligent in pursuit of our shared dreams and pursuits,” she said.

At the age of 24, Karua was appointed as a Magistrate to adjudicate on matters of men. A few years later, she became the youngest woman to be elected MP in Central Kenya and went on to serve for 20 years.

Martha Karua also served as a Cabinet minister for six years in different portfolios.

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Raila Odinga Martha Karua

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