Narc-Kenya party leader Martha Karua. Inset is President William Ruto.
Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua has challenged Kenyans not to give in to intimidation and continue resisting unpopular policies by President William Ruto’s administration, which she termed as "the worst since independence".
In an interview with Nation.Africa, the 2022 Azimio la Umoja One Kenya presidential running mate rallied Kenyans to join hands to “thwart William Ruto’s graduation into a despot”.
“Fear is not an option,” Ms Karua charged.
"Kenya Kwanza is the worst administration to ever serve Kenyans since independence. To its credit, it holds the cup for illegal abduction of its own citizens and wanton reckless execution of its own people for no reason — the best example being the Gen Z protests.”
Ms Karua also points out that the Ruto administration is guilty of abduction of foreign nationals — who she reckons were bona fide refugees refouled to their country against the law. Here, she refers to the recent abduction of four Turkish nationals — Alparslan Taşçı, Mustafa Genç, Huseyin Yesilsa and Öztürk Uzun, who were captured in October and shipped back to Turkey.
“The abduction of citizens like the missing Wajir MCA who was said to have been at an un-gazetted police holding place at some stage...they must come clean about these violations.”
She continued: “This government is a parent who eats their own children for dinner. Kenyans must be serious. Fear is not an option because he will still get you or your loved one with your fear, even under your bed. Come out, let us stand firm and say no together.”
Here are excerpts of the interview:
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Q: What's your take on the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and the recent attack in Limuru?
A: The impeachment was a sham. I’m not a fan of Gachagua because when he had the opportunity, he abused it. He was silent when Uhuru (Kenyatta) was being raided...he never saw that this could happen to him. Nevertheless, I stand for justice for him...he never got justice. I stand for him being left to enjoy all the freedoms — including that of association and expression. He is a Kenyan and rights are not about friendships. I’m reminding Ruto that Uhuru left him free to go around campaigning even though they disagreed. Let him know that Gachagua is equally entitled to the same.
Q: What’s your message to Gachagua’s critics?
A: To those in parliament and in government seeing it as an opportunity to bash Gachagua, I want to remind them of Gachagua when Uhuru was being harassed. He never saw it coming. You are next. After he (Ruto) is done with Gachagua it will be you. So stop throwing stones. Get serious and identify that your man William Ruto has no friend. He is an enemy to all.
Q: What’s your take on Raila Odinga’s quest for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission?
A: I wish him well. I don’t have a vote there so let him continue with his campaigns. Kenyans are still disappointed, but we wish him well.
Q: How do you view the abduction of Uganda opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye and his associate Obeid Lutale ahead of your book launch in Nairobi?
A: That sort of conduct violates the Kenyan Constitution, the Ugandan Constitution, the East Africa treaty, the rule of law principle, and all international human rights laws. If Uganda had anything on Dr Besigye and his colleague, Mr Lutale, they should have started extradition proceedings.
Q: Do you believe the Kenyan government had a hand in it?
A: Absolutely. President Yoweri Museveni has not annexed Kenya. His military or security agents cannot operate on Kenyan soil. It is an unholy alliance he is having with the brutal Ruto regime. We have reliable information that the abduction squad in Kenya has outsiders including Ugandans, Burundians, DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), and I don't know God knows what other jurisdictions. This just proves us right.
Q: Why is your party Narc Kenya exiting Azimio coalition?
A: I think the purpose of Azimio changed when my former leader — I say former because I'm no longer in that coalition — Raila Odinga and his party went into government. Although they deny it, it's obvious that they are in government. He is being supported by government for AU.
It is his right. But because we, as Narc Kenya, did not want to be part of government, we could no longer remain. You can see now that the mouthpiece of one William Ruto is mainly Joho and Junet. In fact, the newspapers called them, rightly, the new amplifiers. So, there is no way we can be in a coalition that no longer serves the purpose of the people. We need to defend the people, their rights. We need to call the Ruto regime to account and you can't do that with one leg in, one leg out.
Q: Do you think Raila Odinga should formally lead his troops to government?
A: In fact, as the year concludes, I will call upon my friend and brother, Raila Odinga, because even if we differ politically he is still my brother and friend, to do the honourable thing and have a post-election coalition agreement with Ruto so that they are in government. Not through the backdoor, not through a come-we-stay marriage, but through a proper political marriage, solemnised by the registrar of political parties. Right now, what they are doing is being less than candid, by occupying crucial seats that belong to the opposition in parliament, such as the Public Accounts Committee and the Public Investment Committee.
They are occupying those seats, yet it is their ministers who are in government and holding crucial dockets, like Treasury and Energy. They should relinquish those seats and let the next big party in parliament to occupy them. For us in Narc Kenya, we have clarity of thought, that once there is a mix-up of who is opposition and who is government, we cannot be in that boat.
Q: Do you think Mr Odinga has betrayed opposition cause?
A: The Gen Zs felt like Raila had betrayed them. I also personally felt betrayed. There are some observers who say Raila was not part of the Gen Zs and didn't betray them. But when we become opposition leaders, we owe a certain duty to Kenyans.
Whether or not we are in the Gen Z movement, as leaders, we have a duty to protect and stand with the people. I personally felt betrayed by Raila...but we grant him his right to also do what he wishes, and we too have our right, and that is why we withdrew. So, what remains of the opposition and the line between opposition and the Ruto regime is being blurred by the continual insistence of Raila that his party is still in opposition, which is not the case.
Q: Are you seeking fresh partnerships?
A: There are so many other Kenyans to team up with. We have open mind and this is a time for each party to develop itself. Narc Kenya, for instance, is rebranding, amending its constitution to even put term limits for the party leader which means next election I won’t be able to vie as party leader.
Q: Does this take away your eligibility for vie for the presidency?
A: Not at all. Definitely Narc Kenya will field a presidential candidate. That doesn’t mean it cannot sit with others to have a joint candidate. But each party exists for the sole purpose of capturing power to be able to govern according to its manifesto. So Narc Kenya is squarely in the ring, but with an open mind.
Q: You have held press conferences in the company of former Governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana, ex-Minister Dr Mukhisa Kituyi and former MP Kabando wa Kabando. Are you drawing a joint political plan, possibly a Third Force?
A: Those are some of the leaders with whom we agree and there are many others. We will continue working with progressives to liberate Kenya.
Q: What’s your parting shot to Kenyans as the year comes to an end?
A: Fear is not an option. As we spend this holiday season with many unable to meet their basic needs, many suffering without access to healthcare, many not knowing how their children will access education next year, many not having shelter because theirs were destroyed by the Ruto regime, many, especially the youth, not having jobs and hope for tomorrow, I urge you, let’s not tire. Let's show the resilience that we are famous for as Kenyans.
