Martha Karua’s absence at Azimio La Umoja event spoke a lot, Hamman Manyora, a political analyst, says adding that the public must have been disappointed as they expected the “Iron Lady”, who has gained fame as a reformist, to join the ‘father of all reforms’ – Raila Odinga.
“I just don’t understand why my Martha Karua did not attend the NDC at KICC; she is known as a progressive leader. Who else is as progressive as Raila in this country? In fact, Raila has earned the title ‘reformist’ with his blood. We were disappointed not to see her. She should have been with the winning team,” said Manyora.
He alludes that by snubbing the Azimio La Umoja agenda and political theatrics, Martha has killed her comeback on the political scene and she might be out in the cold for another political season.
Manyora feels that Karua might face a huge political hurdle to capture the Kirinyaga gubernatorial seat from the current Governor Anne Waiguru.
“You know Karua is someone you want to be in government; she should be with the winning team, I wonder why she is playing stubborn; it will be difficult for her to get the governor seat from Anne Waiguru; I also think she was embarrassed to work with Kenyatta. After all, we all know that she wants to be the Governor,” said Manyora.
But what might have happened a day in-between after Karua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Kanu’s Gideon Moi held a press briefing at a Nairobi hotel, all smiles ahead of the Azimio la Umoja rally?
According to documents seen by a local daily, the trio had included in its constitution a clause allowing an automatic dissolution of its member parties if any of them entered a partnership deal with other political formations.
The clause would allow any of the key principals of OKA to join any other political formations.
Manyora says that Karua might have felt embarrassed to work with President Uhuru Kenyatta, considering her reputation on zero-tolerance to corruption and her last stand in the 2017 general election.
The Nark boss Karua had refused any political arrangement with the President, citing unreconcilable differences.
Further, Manyora feels like Karua might have felt like she was playing second fiddle, with the ultimate price being Kalonzo Musyoka.
“I also think that she felt that Odinga was taking her for granted; she felt as if the tagline was ‘Nunua Kalonzo pata Karua’ translated to mean buy Kalonzo get Karua free.”
Meanwhile, lawyer and political commentator Joy Midivo believes that Martha Karua might have skipped the meeting deliberately to protect a brand she has created over the years. So joining forces with Azimio would have left her reputation in question.
“You know Karua is too principled, she has created a brand over the years, and people see her as a very dependable person. She must have felt joining Azimio la Umoja would have left her legitimacy in question,” said Joy Midio.
Last week, the NARC Kenya party pleaded for seven more days to scrutinise the OKA coalition agreement to ensure that the agreement was aligned to the Political Parties Act.