| Martha Karua |
Narc Kenya party leader
Martha Karua has dismissed reports that she would support President Uhuru
Kenyatta’s re-election in the next year’s polls.
Speaking on Citizen
TV’s Cheche Show on Wednesday, November 16, the former Gichugu MP said she did
not declare her backing of any presidential candidate in the 2017 elections
saying that her pronouncement less than a fortnight ago was a reflection of the
stand of Narc Kenya, Kirinyaga Branch.
Karua said the
perception that she would support President Kenyatta in 2017 is a
misinterpretation of the media noting that, just like other Kenyans, her
decision on who she will vote for is secret.
“We need to uphold the
secrecy of the ballot as a means to build our democracy. Just like other
Kenyans, my choice for the next elections is secret.”
“The reports about my
support for Uhuru are just an interpretation of the media because my
pronouncement in Kirinyaga was an echo of the decision by the county’s Narc
Kenya branch to support Uhuru Kenyatta in the next election,” she said.
She said that her
decision not to make public who she will support in the next elections is
advised by her willingness to allow other Narc Kenya branches in the 30
counties that the party has presence to choose a candidate of their own.
“Many branches in the
Mount Kenya area have said they will back Uhuru, and I respect their choice.
But I still hold that each branch in the 30 counties that Narc Kenya has
presence in should choose whoever they want to support in the presidential
race.”
She remarked that,
though Narc Kenya will not have a presidential candidate, it will not fold up
and join any coalition.
“We need to allow our
political parties to grow and as democracy matures, we will see fewer parties,”
she said.
“We have made a
decision that as we seek to grow as a party, we will not field a presidential
candidate though we will have candidates in all other elective posts.”
This, and her open
opposition for six-piece voting, she said, is advised by her willingness to
give Kenyans freewill to choose whoever they want.
“I am totally opposed
to six-piece voting because it makes people choose leaders who are less
qualified to serve just because they belong to a certain party.”
Despite some of her
party branches supporting President Uhuru Kenyatta, Ms Karua said she will
still stand against perceived ills in Jubilee government and speak out against
issues that affect Kenyans.
“Even when I was a
Cabinet Minister in President Mwai Kibaki’s government, I spoke out against
issues of national importance and that will not stop. This is important because
if we don’t, people will not get the service they deserve.”
On her interest in
Kirinyaga governorship seat, the former minister said she does not perceive her
decision not to give another shot at the presidency as downgrading adding that
she is motivate by the need to serve the people in a county-level.
“Being a governor is an
opportunity to serve the people at the county level and ensure effective delivery
of services to the people.”
“I am still consulting
the people of Kirinyaga to come up with an inclusive manifesto though some of
the key areas that I intend to focus on are health, infrastructure,
agriculture, and education,” said the 2013 presidential candidate.
The Narc Kenya leader,
who has been working closely with CORD leader Raila Odinga since after the last
election, was said to have voiced her support for Uhuru in a bid to gain
political goodwill from the Mr Kenyatta as she prepares for a grueling face-off
with former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru who will be vying on a
Jubilee ticket for Kirinyaga seat.
While some Jubilee
legislators welcomed her move, CORD members including Kakamega Senator
Bonny Khalwale downplayed the
significance of her “departure” saying she was not bringing any
votes to CORD.
