UDA: Raila plan to make Karua DP and Justice CS is ploy to revive BBI

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party is speaking out about what it calls Raila Odinga’s “departure from the constitution” in his plan to make his running mate Martha Karua a Cabinet Secretary should they win the presidency.

Mr. Odinga on Monday announced that should his Azimio La Umoja movement ascend into power come August 9, Ms. Karua will not only be a deputy president, but also the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Constitutional Affairs.

UDA has however condemned the plan, terming it as a misplacement of responsibilities on Odinga’s deputy.

“I have never seen such a misplacement of designation of duties on a running mate. First, it departs from what the constitution has provided for in terms of the deputy president’s office,” UDA’s Secretary General Veronica Maina told Citizen TV during Tuesday’s Day Break program.

According to the Deputy President William Ruto-led outfit, Odinga’s plan to have the no-nonsense lawyer double up as a Justice Minister is a ploy to change the constitution through a revival of the now-defunct Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).

“What I see when I see the insinuation of Martha becoming a Cabinet Secretary for minister of Justice and maybe Constitutional Affairs is the thematic focus of Azimio being constitutional amendment,” said Maina.

“It’s a revival of the BBI... or constitutional making because they think that is the issue that affects Kenyans.”

Added the Sec-Gen: “What Raila forgot is that Martha went to court to oppose the BBI the other day, and BBI did not see the light of day.”

Since her appointment, Karua has, however, maintained that BBI was thrown out on grounds of illegalities and that if Azimio wins the polls, she is willing to steer the constitutional reforms agenda, but as enshrined in the constitution.

“In my acceptance, I said I will take up that supportive role in accordance with the law. I will be supportive to do things the way they should be done. It will be my duty to my principal, Kenyans, and the country," Karua told Citizen TV’s Yvonne Okwara in a Monday exclusive.

Karua was among the central critics of the BBI-driven Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2022 that she termed a “fraud”.

The Supreme Court in March declared the bill, whose proponents were Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta, as unconstitutional and null and void.