Raila Unveils Karua as Running Mate
By: Mark Mbaluto Musili
Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Azimio-Oka coalition presidential candidate, Raila Odinga, officially appointed Martha Wangari Karua as his running mate. Raila appointed Karua as his deputy in an official meeting conducted at the KICC building in Nairobi on Monday, May 16. She stands to become the first female deputy president in Kenyan history.
Raila referred to Karua as an effective leader, a fighter and not a quitter, who has broken the male dominated cycle that has existed for the last 60 years since Kenya attained independence. The Azimio-Oka coalition president dubbed it as the beginning of a new chapter in Kenya’s political rhetoric.
Karua, commonly known as Irony Lady, a term coined after Britain’s first female prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, due to her daring nature was equally excited to be unveiled as Raila’s deputy. Azimio’s presidential candidate said he picked Karua mainly because of her rich political background, having worked in different portfolios. She worked as an advocate and defended veteran politician Koigi wa Wamwere, who was facing treason charges for his defiance against the government.
"History is calling us to close the gender gap. As Azimio we have today taken a key step towards that end. Martha Karua is an exceptional leader with high principles. Thank you, Martha, for agreeing to walk with me on this journey," Raila Twitted, following Karua's appointment.
In the midst of the 1992 multiparty euphoria, Karua was bold enough to vie for the Gichugu Constituency seat. However, she was forced to resign from Kenneth Matiba’s FORD Asili on allegations of being short changed for the party’s ticket. She decamped to the late former president Mwai Kibaki’s Democratic Party (DP) and went on to clinch the seat. She represented the region for over two decades.
After the end of KANU’s reign, Karua served as the minister for water and also in the Justice, Cohesion and Constitutional affairs docket. She however resigned from the later position in 2009, accusing President Kibaki and former Chief Justice Evans Gicheru, of derailing the quest for judicial reforms.
In 2013, Karua unsuccessfully vied for the country’s top seat. In 2017, she lost to Anne Waiguru in the Kirinyaga gubernatorial contest. Prior to this, she had also walked out of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s political rally in 2016 when an unfriendly crowd silenced her, with chants of ‘jubilee’ muting her voice.
However, Raila has stated to work hand in hand with Karua in order to revive the economy and deliver Kenyans from hardships.
Raila’s appointed cabinet
Raila named his 2022 cabinet secretaries and among those mentioned were Wiper party leader, Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, who will be the chief cabinet secretary, Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho who if they succeed, will be the ministry of lands, dealing with historical land injustices in the coastal region and along the country borders.
Meanwhile, the senatorial speaker position has been assigned to Kenneth Marende, Wycliffe Oparanya will hold the National Treasury post, while Peter Munya will be the Cs for Agriculture and chairman of Kenya productive sector.
Raila’s campaign docket
Raila Odinga will officially launch the Azimio campaign teams on Wednesday, May 18. The campaign team has been tasked with collecting votes for their presidential candidate across the country. Among the teams are National Azimio Women League, National Azimio Youth League, Rift Valley team, Nairobi team, Nyanza and Western Campaign team, Rift Valley Campaign team, Central Kenya campaign team, Coast Campaign team, Nairobi and Ukambani team, Laikipia, Nyandarua and Nakuru unity team. Mt. Kenya east team. Other teams will be the North Eastern team, Samburu, Marsabit and Isiolo Azimio.
“I have created 12 formations to drive the Azimio campaign and the leadership of this teams will be announced on May Wednesday 18 ready to start working across the country”
Cabinet secretaries attended the Azimio forum
The cabinet hollow is represented by Cabinet Secretary for the Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs, Margret Kobia, Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communications Joe Mucheru and internal security secretary Fred Mating, who represented the president of the republic of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta.
