Martha Karua is just a step away from becoming Kenya’s first woman Deputy President, after Azimio la Umoja boss Raila Odinga names her as his running mate.
Referred to as the ‘Iron Lady’ is a principle national leader who has a track record of advocating for a more progressive Kenya.
Karua’s public service is lengthy, broad and deep, but her service in all three branches of government sets her apart, offering her rare insight into the workings of national government and unique ideas on how to establish and preserve intergovernmental relations.
She is a human rights advocate and reformer who is passionate about social fairness, the rule of law, and the creation of transparent institutions.
Karua began her legal career as a Magistrate in 1981, before going into private practice as a founding partner of Martha Karua & Co. Advocates, one of the most successful women-led law businesses at the time.
Karua has argued precedent-setting cases and been a part of historic public-interest litigation.
In the year 2020, Karua was promoted to Senior Counsel.
She attended Kabare Girls Boarding School before joining Kiburia Girl’s Secondary School. She then moved to Ngiriambu Girls before settling at Karoti Girls where she sat for her East African School Certificate.
Karua is a holder of a Master’s degree from the United States International University (USIU). She graduated in 2011 at a ceremony held in Santiego, USA.
During Kenya’s restrictive single-party regime, Karua was heavily involved in the defense of victims of illegal detentions and politically motivated allegations.
This work introduced her to key civil society actors and causes, leading to her involvement in the founding and active service of organizations such as the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), the League of Kenya Women Voters, the International Federation of Women Lawyers Kenya (FIDA Kenya), and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ).
In addition, as a veteran of Kenya’s second liberation and democratic struggle, Karua battled for the development of independent institutions, particularly the Kenya judiciary, in the early 1990s, both as a Council Member of the Law Society of Kenya and as a member of the Kenyan Bar Association.
She was elected Member of Kenya National Assembly (Parliament) for Gichugu Constituency December 1992 – January 2013.
On a NARC-Kenya ticket, she ran for governor of Kirinyaga in 2017. She was defeated by Anne Waiguru, a former Devolution CS who ran on a Jubilee Party banner.
Her trip, on the other hand, has not been easy.
She once walked out on President Moi at Kerugoya Stadium because she was refused the opportunity to speak to the crowd despite being a MP.
In 2009, she made history by resigning from the Coalition administration.