Martha Karua's Narc Kenya gets green light to exit Azimio

The Narc Kenya National Delegates Convention (NDC) yesterday gave the green light for the party to pull out of the Raila Odinga-led Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition, with party leader Martha Karua saying she would seek more strategic partnerships even as she slammed President William Ruto's administration.

Converging at the historic Ufungamano House in Nairobi, the delegates approved withdrawal from Azimio, on whose ticket Ms Karua ran in the 2022 presidential election as Mr Odinga’s running mate.

“...We entered into Azimio to liberate Kenyans from the ills bedevilling the country, when Azimio’s purpose changed, through its leadership who are also the majority in the coalition (ODM) Narc Kenya deliberated and made a decision to exit,” she said.

She pointed out that the 90 days’ notice given to the Registrar of Political Parties in July have since elapsed “and with the delegates approval, we want to move on record that we are no longer in the Azimio coalition.”

Ms Karua who was flanked by other party officials, said the party will seek partners with demonstrated commitment.

Rebranding

“Narc Kenya is rebranding and changing its name and party colours and the NDC...has given the National Executive permission to go ahead with the rebranding exercise. They have also given us permission to amend our constitution and we wish to be the first party in Kenya to have term limits for the top leadership of the party,” said Ms Karua.

She disclosed that the move to have term limit for top leaders in the party means that in the next elections of the party, she will not be eligible to vie, but that does not mean she cannot contest for an elective seat in the country.

Read: After Cord and Nasa, now Azimio is also facing imminent death

The Narc Kenya leader noted that when there is perpetuity in the leadership of a party - personalising leadership, then it becomes difficult to search and grow other leaders.

“Narc Kenya is now on an exercise to search for the leadership that will take this party to the next level.”

Ms Karua said that the party will continue to point out the ills in president Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration, which she noted has perpetuated the culture of corruption.

“We have witnessed electoral and social economic injustice exemplified by unfair and manifestly excessive taxation amidst official corruption, pilferage and outright theft of public resources, while neglecting the constitutional obligation of ensuring that the basic needs of the people including quality health, education, shelter and water,” she said.

Read: ODM signals readiness for broad-based government amid Azimio tensions

She went on: “We are ready to unite and liberate Kenya from the shackles of socio economic injustice, from a predatory ruling elite who with impunity have diverted our republic from serving the people to serving themselves.”

Ms Karua also chided the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, casting aspersions on the independence of the apex court.

Health system

“The judiciary is largely invaded but we thank God for sparks of light in the court of Appeal, the High court and within the ranks of Magistrates,” she said, and accused parliament of failing to ensure there is a duly constituted Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission “after Ruto’s vendetta on the Cherera 4.”

She was referring to the four IEBC commissioners hounded out of office after the 2022 election. They included Juliana Cherera (vice chairperson), Justus Nyang’aya, Francis Wanderi and Irene Masit.

She also took issue with a health system she said was on the brink, an education sector in chaos and emasculation of independent institutions. “They are (government’s perceived shortcomings) a manifestation of increasing levels of impunity in the Ruto administration. The Ruto regime has become a destructive force that threatens the very foundations of our nation,” added Ms Karua.

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