PLP party leader Martha Karua. Inset is President William Ruto.
People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua believes the broad-based arrangement between President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga is of no help to Kenyans, terming it a union of interests.
Ms Karua also believes that Kenya’s apex court is standing in the way of reforms, and she lists instances where it has reversed decisions of earlier courts to build her case.
In a wide-ranging interview last week, Ms Karua also explained why she wouldn’t wish to be anyone’s running mate again, after playing second fiddle to Mr Odinga in the 2022 General Election.
Regarding her criticism of the broad-based government, Ms Karua said: “We’ve had it for several months but haven’t seen any output.”
“We have not seen a change of behaviour. Even when Raila talked against abductions, government agencies like police, NIS (National Intelligence Service) have still come to tell the court ‘we don’t know’, yet we know for sure it’s them,” she added.
She also claimed that unauthorised withdrawals are going on in the Treasury under John Mbadi, one of Mr Odinga’s allies, who were given government positions in the broad-based government.
“So what’s the use? That’s why there are those who feel that being in the broad based government is for their own gain,” she said. “It also can’t be ‘broad-based’ because the broadness goes as far as ODM and sections of Jubilee. Though they claim it’s not Jubilee, those are people who were aligned with the party previously, except (ICT Cabinet Secretary William) Kabogo. So, it’s for their own good; not that of Kenyans.”
Ms Karua also thinks Mr Odinga is conflicted on the position he should hold on various national issues.
“He’s actually finding himself talking against the same government he’s working with,” she said. “So, you can see his heart is in the right place but sometimes his actions…I don’t know what confuses the other.”
ODM party leader Raila Odinga.
When asked what she would tell President Ruto if she were to meet him, she said she would not want such a meeting.
“First, I would not wish to meet him. His DNA is lies and more lies. So, I will be wasting time. His DNA is to violate human rights. It is corruption schemes,” said Ms Karua. “The country has never gone through what it’s going through now.”
It is now two months since Ms Karua unveiled PLP, which marked the end of the Narc-Kenya party she had been leading.
“It has been good and the going is very promising. The members are happy, we are happy,” she said of the rebrand. “Every time I go to the office, I’m warmed up by the colours.”
On Tuesday, Ms Karua was the talk of the town after a photo circulated of a meeting she had with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, former ministers Fred Matiang’i, Eugene Wamalwa, Justin Muturi, Mithika Linturi and Mukhisa Kituyi.
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Whereas there were talks of a coalition in the offing, Ms Karua did not divulge any information about the meeting, with her handlers describing it as a private affair. As the conversation continues on the team that will battle it out with Dr Ruto in 2027, Ms Karua reiterated her previous remarks that she would not want to be a running mate again.
“I’m running to finish successfully,” she said. “I’m done with that one (being a running mate), and I played it to my best.”
However, she had good memories to share from her run with Mr Odinga in the 2022 polls, describing it as a great experience.
“Raila and I were very aligned on policy. I found policy documents almost completely ready and I was wowed. It was like they were made for me: we were aligned,” she said, adding that it was easy to work with Mr Odinga as they have been in the trenches together.
She believes that her late entry into the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya ticket worked to their disadvantage — or else they could have beaten Dr Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza to the presidency.
“One of things I learnt is that entering late has its disadvantages. I entered Azimio late. You are not able to blend seamlessly with the organisation. As candidates, we blended well, but being able to know what is being produced in the kitchen doesn’t become easy at that stage because you have no time to sit with those planning,” she said.
Another memory she had of the Azimio campaign is that it was well-resourced. The support they received included two choppers “donated by a philanthropist”.
