By Our Correspondent, NAIROBI
Kenya
Kenya’s Azimio la Umoja One Kenya presidential flag bearer Raila Odinga has named Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua as his running mate.
Speaking at the Kenyatta
International Convention Centre, Odinga praised Karua for her zeal and human
rights record.
"I needed a true Joshua
on my corner, one who will not be a turn coat. After along search and
reflection, together with consultation, I have arrived at the decision that the
holder of this position must be a woman," Odinga said
He added: "The office of
the DP is a workshop which cannot compete with the presidency. The holder must
be a co-worker"
After reviewing the committee
report I have nominated Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka as the Chief Cabinet Secretary
to help me form the Azimio government.
"I also nominate Kenneth
Marende as the speaker of the senate. I also nominate Oparanya as CS for
Treasury," he said.
Odinga also proposed Peter
Munya as CS Agriculture and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho as CS for lands, to
deal with the land issues especially at the coast.
Karua's choice has split
Azimio which saw Wiper Kenya party leader Kalonzo Musyoka bolt out.
In a separate press
conference, Musyoka wished Karua well.
"I wish Raila's running
mate Martha Karua well. We have agreed to go our separate ways. I
told Raila the decision to pick Karua will be met with a lot of
opposition. OKA will be alone and very soon Wiper will be launching its
own manifesto," he said.
Karua, who joined the Azimio
team in March has been crisscrossing the country drumming up support for Odinga.
Last week, she attended the
running mate interviews where she said she would accept the verdict of the
interviewing panel.
"I went for the
interviews without any set conditions... I went knowing the situation there and
I will continue working with them regardless of the outcome," she said.
She went on to drum up support
for Odinga, saying that his record was unmatched to anyone opposing his
candidature.
"My history and that of
Raila are similar. He is a patriot that has fought for human rights all his
life. I am in Azimio because I know Raila has the interest of the people
at heart... even when he is wronged, he makes decisions based on the people's
interest," she said.
Karua said the Azimio leader
has a record of standing with Kenyans and thus the best suited to be president.
“When we consider the
incidences of 2002, 2007 and 2013 we can all agree that he (Raila) put his
interest aside for the sake of Kenyans. What kind of leader do we want if not
someone who put the interest of Kenyans first? No other side has such a
leader,” she noted.
She asked Kenyans while going
to cast their vote to consider the person and not the party.
“Let us weigh all these people
and see what kind of people they are… there are good and bad people on both
sides but no one comes close to Raila,” she said adding that the Azimio
government will ensure they ward off cartels and seal all corruption loopholes.
Jubilee vice chairman David
Murathe has lauded Azimio flag bearer Raila Odinga for his choice of Narc-Kenya
leader Martha Karua as his running mate, saying she is better placed to fight
for the interests of Mt Kenya region and the country.
Murathe said Odinga and Karua
ticket will charm the country, with the possibility of the country having the
first female Deputy President since independence.
"Martha is somebody who
can secure the interests of Mt Kenya as Uhuru (President Kenyatta) goes home.
"So, they need somebody
like Martha who can excite the vote in Mt Kenya and the country," Murathe
said.
Karua, he said, "will appeal to the women and appeal to the forces of
democratization which she has fought for."
Jubilee vice-chairman David
Murathe said that even anti-corruption crusaders will now know the fight
against corruption with Karua and Jakom,
"She has everything going
for her," Murathe said adding that Karua will fight for the Mt Kenya
community and serve their interests.
"When the community feels
insecure now that they don’t have a candidate, they need a fighter next to
Jakom to take care of their interests."
He described Karua as
principled.
"She will be able to
insulate Jakom and will not take nonsense.
"Those who think they
will go to distract Jakom, they will have to pass through her
first."
The Jubilee official pointed out that the choice of Ms
Karua is vital for Odinga interms of the value of the vote, chemistry and will
excite the vote base – both Mt Kenya and women base.
"This is the person who
can do it. She will take Ruto head on – on corruption wi
A lawyer by profession, Karua
graduated from the University of Nairobi in 1980 and the Kenya School of Law in
1981.
She worked as a magistrate
before leaving to start her law firm and was instrumental in the treason trial
of former Subukia MP Koigi Wamwere.
At the risk of being
blacklisted by the Kanu regime, she defended several human rights activists.
Karua would later plunge into
politics and was elected MP for Gichugu constituency in 1992 and became the
Democratic Party's legal affairs secretary in 1993.
She served as minister for
Water Resources Management and Development in the late President Mwai Kibaki’s
administration between 2003 and 2008 before she was appointed minister for
Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs, where she served until
April 6, 2009, when she resigned from the government.
She is celebrated for
championing the Water Act 2002, which accelerated the pace of water reforms and
improved related services. She is also known for the fight for democracy, the
second liberation and constitutional change.
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