Karua stirs storm behind Kibaki
By Joseph Murimi
Justice Minister Martha Karua says she is going for nothing less than the presidency and would not be seeking endorsement from President Kibaki.
Karua spoke on the eve of a crucial meeting where she is expected to formally take charge of Narc-Kenya and introduce a new structure for one vice-chairman, shutting out the eight bigwigs who were appointed to the deputising position last year.
They include Cabinet ministers Prof George Saitoti, Suleiman Shakombo as well as former ministers Kipruto arap Kirwa, Prof Kivutha Kibwana, Mohammed Mohamoud and Mutua Katuku.
Karua, whose Narc-Kenya plans to go it alone in 2012, also got the position then. However, she is now planning to turn the tables on a former colleagues in the vice-chairmen category, and this could take place in the party’s retreat in Naivasha.
Karua said she would push her own candidacy because she believes in merit and not lineage or connections. “I am not looking to be handpicked or pushed forward by anyone. I will take myself to the people. It is the people who will push me. It is the only sure and sustainable way,’’ says the Gichugu MP.
She said the past is a signpost for every politician and those, whom outgoing presidents have supported, were rejected by the people. As for her credentials the minister who came close to Deputy Prime Minister’s post and who has taken charge of Narc-Kenya, argued she would be in the race on her own merit.
“We had Moi (former President) name a successor and you all know what happened. Leaders who are handpicked do not end up achieving their goals,’’ said Karua.
She said even in the last General Election some ministers got direct nominations and the President campaigned for them, but they were floored.
Karua added support by Presidents only works when it coincides with what the people want otherwise they consider it as improper and an imposition. But Karua explains it is within President Kibaki’s right to name a successor if he so wished. But whether people will follow his advice is another matter.
Karua’s interest in taking over from President Kibaki, who completes his second and final term in 2012, has triggered party realignments in the Mount Kenya region. The region is the theatre of intense post-Kibaki succession wars, first within the political bloc, and secondly at State House.
She spoke ahead of today’s two-day Narc-Kenya retreat in Naivasha to discuss, among other things, the party’s strategy and preparation for the 2012 General Election.
On reported cold war with Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Karua wondered which position has been reserved for the Kanu chairman.
“Does Uhuru have a reserved post? Who has a birthright to positions in this country?’’ she asked. She also wondered why central Kenya seemed to attract more attention than other regions.
The Gichugu MP who has assumed the leadership of Narc-Kenya says no one has a birthright to any position. Karua who was tipped to clinch the DPM position explains she was not bitter when Uhuru got it.
It has not affected their relationship, she says, adding that during the last by-elections they campaigned for Party of National Unity’s candidates. It is only people with ‘limited horizon’ who imagine that there is a power struggle between her and Uhuru, she says.
She does not understand why people ‘fear’ her and why they panicked after she was made Narc-Kenya chairman and when she declared her interest in the presidency.
The minister said she had declined to take up the position of Narc-Kenya chairmanship due to pressure of work. That is why she explains she does not understand why they reacted they way they did after she accepted the position.
Karua said it was not unusual for anyone, including herself to position oneself to succeed President Kibaki through democratic means, adding there should be as many contenders as possible. There should never be a sole candidate, she says.
“There should be no sole candidate. Politics is dynamic. Today you could be at the top and tomorrow at the rock bottom,’’ said Karua.
She said Uhuru or any other politician for that matter, does not have reserved posts and what those who aspire for the positions should fight it out, fairly and freely.
Karua argued just because Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Uhuru have run for the presidency before should not pave way for the assumption that the positions are reserve for them.
She further dismissed her critics who claim she cannot finance a presidential campaign, and wondered what amount Kalonzo had in last year’s elections. President Kibaki, she claims, did not have money to run the campaigns and PNU depended on affiliate parties and friends.
Money talk
What is important for a candidate, she advised, is the ability to raise money because one can’t be expected to campaign on personal or family resources.
She said the money talk is an irrelevance and is a sign her declaration has rattled some quarters. Among those said to be ruffled by Karua’s interest on the presidency are Internal Security Minister Prof George Saitoti, believed to be eyeing Democratic Party, and Uhuru who is said to be looking out to PNU because of ownership wars in Kanu and the plummeting profile of the Independence party.
It is not clear where Finance Minister Amos Kimunya and his Energy colleague Kiraitu Murungi, who are members of the flower party, stand in the new equation.
Youthful current and former MPs from central Kenya led by Water Assistant Minister Mwangi Kiunjuri have taken over the Grand National Union (GNU), after informally breaking ranks with Narc-Kenya and PNU.
Kiunjuri, who is the GNU leader, says the party is targeting the youth and will be launched next month.
Apart from causing party realignments, Karua’s entry into the Kibaki succession has renewed the traditional rivalries between the larger Nyeri and Kiambu political blocs. Karua draws her support from Nyeri, Kirinyaga and Murang’a Districts. Uhuru draws support from Thika and Kiambu.
The entry of Kiunjuri and his youthful team of MPs is expected to eat into Karua’s and Uhuru’s turfs while drawing more support from Laikipia.
Saitoti is said to be looking for another party rather than be junior to Karua in Narc- Kenya once she is confirmed the party leader.
Medical Services Assistant Minister Danson Mungatana claims Saitoti has abandoned the party and has not attended a single meeting this year. The party holds parliamentary group meetings every Thursday.
On Narc-Kenya, Karua said the party has been operating on a distorted structure that needs to be reconfigured. Though she declined to discuss the proposed structure, it has emerged the eight positions of vice-chairman would be scrapped.
Should Saitoti lose the vice- chairman’s position he would have been edged out of the mainstream Narc- Kenya leadership.
Karua says the strategy meeting will also discuss how to complete the electoral process that stalled at the branch level. She attributed Narc-Kenya’s bloated and distorted structure to disagreements on national elections.
The party manifesto, rules and the constitution, she added, are best tuned when there is no pressure of a General Election, now more than four years a way.
She also revealed the meeting would also discuss how to expand the party’s reach and how to nurture internal democracy. Speaking ahead of the retreat Mungatana, who is the national organising secretary, confirmed the proposal to have only one vice-chairman.
He said they would also agree on rules for nomination of Members to Parliament as well as candidates for Prime Minister and the President.
Mungatana said they have proposed that there should be no direct nominations of candidates and that all members should fight it out.
He conceded the retreat was part of a serious preparation for the 2012 General Election.
Courtesy of:http://www.eastandard.net/news/?id=1143989244&cid=4
3 users commented in " Justice Minister Martha Karua, backed by heavyweight Gema multi-millionaires, launches her 2012 Presidential Campaign bid "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackHmm!!!! I wonder which people maybe the Gichugu people have the magic to form populace of Kenyan Nation population. Because she has a very dirty mouth and have failed the first test. Her mouth stinks from a distance - She and others are culprit candidates of corruption, obstruction of justice and genocide. She will have been arraigned by then and will be serving her term come 2012.
Freedom of speech is what we are striving for -and yes for now, she has her freedom to speak until then.
Nice weekend!!!!
Judy Miriga
USA
It is within Mrs. Karua’s constitutional rights to vie for presidency if she can. Being a woman, it also fits with the tide of new generation leaders like Hilary Clinton, Barack Obama and the like; people who follow dreams that were not possible a few decades ago.
My reservation with her proposed candidacy is the fact that Martha Karua has been part of a malfunctioning political system all along. Ranging from her days with DP upto now with PNU, Mrs. Karua has been part and parcel of the politically charged and ethnic-based GEMA. During the post-election crisis, she stood by Kibaki all the while, even accepting a quick appointment as Justice Minister when Kibaki hurriedly swore himself for a second term. Despite all the irregularities, human rights abuses, police brutality and most importantly, the unlawful handling of election results, Mrs. Karua stood on the Government’s side even partially participating in the propaganda machine and downplaying the Government’s role (or lack of action thereof) in the post-election violence. She was incharge of of Justice, an area where the Government has performed miserably up to now.
Im not writing to discourage her but I am just wondering whether she is as independent and legitimate as she claims. Being part of GEMA, would she be able to create a political movement without ethnic bias? How does she intend to clear or explain her current CV being part of Kibaki’s PNU? Should we fear that she will be the chosen one by the Central community, chosen to keep power within Central province?
B. Obondo
CDMK - Edmonton
I laugh when i heard martha karua say she,s wondering why people fear her my question is who fear,s her? She has no support whatsoever maybe in gichugu she,s a non starter uhuru kenyatta is the MAN period.
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