Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition party running mate, Martha Karua, has pledged her loyalty to the alliance’s presidential candidate, Raila Odinga.
Karua, in an interview on Inooro TV on Sunday, May 22, stated that she would neither quit office as she did during the late President Mwai Kibaki’s regime nor insubordinate her boss in the case of Deputy President William Ruto.
“I will totally submit and subordinate myself to Raila since as a lawyer who is a senior counsel, I know the functions and limits of a deputy president. We ought to change nothing.
“We only need character reform on the officeholder. The current holder (Dr Ruto) publicised his differences and launched rebellious campaigns. In times of differences, we are supposed to internally reconcile and that is what will guide my relationship with my boss, Raila,” Karua affirmed.
The former Justice Minister and Advocate of the High Court added that she had chemistry with Raila, a pro-democracy and anti-graft crusader.
Karua underlined that the duo united owing to their activism, the quest for reforms and the development agenda.
“Odinga and I are like an open book.
“He is not a bad man for he holds no grudges. He is someone you can wrong in the morning and by noon he has completely forgotten and willing to walk with you,” Karua lauded the former Prime Minister.
She, however, did not cut Wiper Leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, some slack but sympathized with him for bolting out of Azimio.
This was after Raila settled on her as his preferred running mate. Kalonzo prior and after the announcement held countless press conferences lamenting how he was likely to be shortchanged and why he was better suited to be Raila’s deputy.
"I as Karua faced the panel with an open mind and commitment to belong to Azimio regardless of the outcome. Mr Musyoka had made it his business to impose himself on the ticket," she stated, arguing that Kalonzo talked himself out of the role.
Karua, nonetheless, urged the former Vice President to join what she termed the winning team, adding that the biggest task of selling Raila in Mt Kenya was near accomplishment.
“They (Kenya Kwanza led by DP Ruto) are afraid of facing me. They are using other people’s children to heckle and threaten me, but I am dedicated to my mission.
“I speak the language of the mountain and understand the political dynamics and terrain. I know how UDA wooed their followers and I clearly have employed counter-tactics to sway the mountain to our side,” Karua stated.
In a past rally in Mt Kenya, she dared Ruto’s allies to disrupt her meetings themselves, rather than use proxies.
Karua continues to preach peace and posterity, asking Mt Kenya residents to choose a team that will defend the Constitution and protect Kenya’s wealth rather than one which relies on abuses and is full of graft suspects.
