As the drum beats of the 2022 presidential elections increase in crescendo, political movers and shakers are aligning and realigning. Narc Kenya’s party leader Martha Karua may be down but she is definitely not out.
Even though she shied away from declaring her interest in the presidency during an interview with K24’s Punchline on Sunday, Ms Karua made it clear that she has no interest whatsoever aligning with Deputy President William Ruto’s camp.
Ms Karua said that Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta are very amiable to work with.
“Raila is a very easy person to work with. Even when we were in the grand coalition government, he is a terribly good person to work with," Ms Karua revealed to Ms Kiguta on Punchline.
In the 2022 election, Ms Karua said given the choice between DP Ruto and Raila, she would choose the latter over the former.
“I was asked a question, a specific question that if it was Raila and Ruto, I said without even thinking it would be Raila,” said Ms Karua.
The Narc Kenya leader also assailed Jubilee, deeming it a disorganized party.
She went even further to claim that Jubilee Party betrayed its partners after winning the 2017 elections.
With succession politics heating up and no particular politician with seemingly overwhelming support in Mt Kenya region, Ms Karua said she has left her options open for the 2022 race.
So far, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has declared intention to run for the presidency in 2022, going as far as launching a party to propel him to the top seat.
Mr Kuria ignited a political storm in December last year when he accused President Kenyatta of neglecting his central region backyard on development, instead focusing on launching projects in areas friendly to the opposition.
But Mr Kuria had to eat humble pie after offering a guarded apology over his harsh criticism of the President.
The vocal MP received backlash from a section of Jubilee Party lawmakers over his comments.
The second-term MP made the comments during a New Year cross-over celebration concert in Thika. He said he wanted to see Mr Kenyatta launching more water, roads and electricity projects in his political backyard.
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has also been touted in political circles a potential strong candidate from the region.
However, she has also not declared her intention to vie for the top seat or run as another candidate’s deputy governor.
Asked about Ms Waiguru’s potential as heir of the Mt Kenya vote bloc, Ms Karua said she must first prove her mettle in Kirinyaga County.
Ms Karua accused her rival of running a disorganized county, saying that she has failed to manage the health sector well.
In July, Ms Waiguru said she had sacked all health workers who had paralysed operations in county hospitals and dispensaries through an illegal strike.
The health workers went on strike in May protesting against poor working conditions and failed to return to work after the Labour Court declared their industrial action illegal. They accused Waiguru’s government of failing to promoted them and pay doctors pursuing Masters degrees their salary arrears for 10 months.
