Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua speaks during the launch of her book 'Against the Tide' on November 17, 2024, at Serena Hotel in Nairobi.
The recent launch of Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua's memoir, Against the Tide, has revealed another side to the senior counsel.
Her former teachers, classmates, colleagues and even her family all said that the Ms Karua portrayed in the media was not the one they knew.
The guests learned who Ms Karua was when she was growing up. She is a good dancer who loves to take care of others.
Retired teacher John Gomes, who taught her at Kiburia Girls in Kirinyaga County said Martha was a disciplined student and they made her a prefect while in Form Three.
In those days, Mr Gomes says, strikes were rampant and he had found out that being idle during the weekends was one of the causes. Introducing dances in school was his way of keeping schoolgirls entertained on weekends to sap any negative energies.
“I called Martha and asked her why there were so many strikes in schools. She told me that the girls had nothing to do over the weekends and she advised me to get a music set so that the girls could be kept busy during weekends,” he said.
He adds that every Saturday evening from 7 to 9, “we would take the floor”.
Former Deputy Chief Justice Nancy Baraza said she first met Martha on September 17, 1977, after they had been admitted to the Faculty of Law at the University of Nairobi.
Ms Baraza wondered why people call her the ‘Iron Lady’ yet she is the softest and kindest human being on earth.
Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua's book 'Against the Tide' pictured on November 17, 2024, at Serena Hotel in Nairobi.
“Martha serves us food herself every time I visit her house. She helps a lot of children and her compound is never empty. There are young people whom she nurtures and whose fees she pays. Martha will part with her last penny to pay school fees for that child and it doesn’t matter where they come from,” she said.
Ms Karua said they were lucky then because they had A-levels, unlike now when students go straight from Form Four to university.
“We knew how to band together if we were going out, we knew we were safer together,” she said.
Against the Tide explores her relentless pursuit of social justice, highlighting her many battles against corruption and her criticism of political injustice.
She narrated events captured in her memoir, Against the Tide, detailing her journey from childhood into the political arena.
In the book preview, she explains her journey along a less-trodden path.
“My close family had been supportive and patient, my dad and teachers exhibited patience with me,” she said.
Known as the ‘Iron Lady’ in political circles, the 67-year-old politician shared the motivation behind her memoir.
“This book is a labour of love, and it reflects the love I have for Kenya,” she said.
She added that the book was a call to action, urging readers to persevere in the face of adversity. Her memoir also delves into her journey as a trailblazer in law and politics, offering a deeply personal perspective.
She also explained how her father motivated her to become a lawyer after she accompanied him to court where he was summoned over a traffic issue.
“We went to Kerugoya and then passed the court. I liked the attention the magistrate got, and in the countryside, they were called judges,” she said.
Reflecting on her early career, Ms Karua shared a throwback photo of her admission to the bar in 1982.
“I was admitted to the bar in 1982 as a practising advocate. By then, I had begun my career as a magistrate in Nakuru at the age of 24. The road ahead seemed daunting as my political consciousness was awakened by the prevailing political situation in the country then; the failed coup d’état.”
"Thirty-eight years later, I was awarded the rank of Senior Counsel after an illustrious career in public service and private practice, successfully arguing cases that have set legal precedents. It has not been easy. I have faced and overcome every tide that has come my way. My story is one of resolve to go against the tide and overcome the obstacles, losses and betrayals that come your way".
Her book also touches on the dramatic events surrounding President Mwai Kibaki’s swift swearing-in during the contested 2007 General Election. She talks about her unwavering support for the late President despite the intense political climate.
She tells of the aftermath of a hotly contested presidential race in which the opposition rejected Kibaki's victory.
“The swearing-in had to be done immediately. Kibaki was declared the winner, and according to the IPPG amendment, the President was to be sworn in as soon as he was declared the winner,” Ms Karua said.
“His leadership was on the line and it was crucial that he was sworn in despite the opposition’s objections,” she added.
Among those in attendance were Kiambu Woman Representative Muthoni wa Mucomba and Kirinyaga Woman Representative Betty Maina, Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo, and former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga among others.
The book’s launch was supported by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom.
