NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul, 20 – Classic Martha. This is what viewers of the 2022 Deputy Presidential Debate described the Azimio La Umoja – One Kenya Alliance presidential running mate, Martha Karua as she took to the stage in her signature look.
For about two hours, she was expected to battle it out with United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Kenya Kwanza presidential running mate Rigathi Gachagua, in front of glaring cameras as an estimated 41 million viewers across various platforms watching the political discourse waited with bated breath to witness what the two political juggernauts, from different schools of thought, had envisaged for the Kenyan people if elected to office.
With just 19 days to the August 9, 2022 polls, in her opening statement, Karua cited her modest upbringing further acknowledging her parents for instilling the virtues of hard work, honesty, a sense of community, and utmost respect towards others. This she said formed the basis of what she would become in her 30-year career in active politics and public service while also being a trailblazer as a social justice advocate.
“I represent the Azimio Hope for this country, Azimio together with Kenyans of goodwill is out to rescue this country from the stranglehold of corruption cartels,” said Karua.
Anti-Corruption Crusader
Taking prominence in the debate and one of the agendas of the Azimio La Umoja manifesto is combating corruption in the country. Enemy number. A bloat or stain on Kenya’s road to development, prosperity, and good governance.
Karua while making her submission, cited and faulted ‘rogue’ elements within the government, hell-bent on amassing personal fortunes at the expense of Kenyans.
“This country can not breathe, we can not get the service we require because monies intended for public service are going into the pockets of corruption cartels who then become instant millionaires with huge bank balances. We intend to help this country, help citizens get their country back and all the resources of this country will be utilized for the best interest of the entire nation, not a select few,” she said.
Kenya has in recent years been featured negatively on the global corruption index with the country said to be losing investors on daily basis. Many have cited a lack of transparency and confidence in the state’s ‘modus operandi’ to operate in a business-friendly environment.
Shockingly, President Kenyatta during an interview in 2021 said that the country was losing an estimated Sh2 billion to corruption. The jubilee government has been embroiled in several multi-billion shilling scandals that have resulted in the stagnation of various projects such as the Arror and Kimwarer Dam project and even the Galana Kulalu irrigation development project among others.
“An Azimio government will have a policy position that graft cases and all serious crimes should be investigated and prosecuted within a given time, within 6 months to be specific, so that people, like my colleague Mr. Gachagua, anybody charged with crime against the people, we ought to know whether they are guilty or not so that people do not seek public office when having baggage of cases,”
Karua said that it was imperative for people accused of graft to be given an opportunity to clear their names while also saying that the onus was also on leaders to ensure that they empower law enforcement agencies and players within the criminal justice system to conduct their jobs diligently and without any interference.
“We have repeatedly said with my captain that whether it is my daughter, my blood relative, or a member of the opposing camp, the law must apply equally to all,”
“…And you do not need a commission to punish crime, you just need serious law enforcement and if you find roadblocks, that cases are taking too long, then parliament can be used to do its work to consider proposals from the government to pass laws that fast track such cases,” said Karua.
The Azimio La Umoja – One Kenya presidential running mate argued that if election petitions are determined in six months, then corruption cases should equally take a similar time frame to be concluded and determined.
Responding to claims of state capture, Karua said that the fight against corruption was about individuals and not families and that those involved in graft were tantamount to criminal groups ‘re-purposing the state to serve their own interests as opposed to the public good.
“Mr Gachagua serves in the national assembly, I have never heard him talk about corruption except when defending his own position in the case he is involved in,”
Karua meanwhile also took a swipe at UDA presidential candidate William Ruto foe his ‘double speak’ on corruption matters in the country.
“Mr Gachagua’s principal is captured on tape in an interview in this country saying that he does not think corruption can stop a nation from developing….with what money? will a nation, develop, invest or even provide services if the corruption cartels are taking Sh2 billion a day? which translates to stealing Sh40 from every person in an average household of 6 people, that is Sh240 shillings. Two packets of unga at the discounted price of Sh100, Kenyans need to understand, that they are without medical services, and fees for their children because corruption cartels are strangling the nation,”
During the coalition government following the post-election violence of 2007- 2008, Karua served as Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister while his presidential candidate Raila Odinga served as Prime Minister.
Streamlining Government Operations And Spur Development
Despite institution’s challenges and a crippling debt that has threatened the country’s development agenda, Karua said that if she is elected into office, her administration will seek to re-evaluate government priorities while channeling money to projects that will spur growth and development.
She further argued that Kenya did not have a revenue problem but rather an expenditure problem.
For the first time in Kenya’s history, the annual revenue collection hit and surpassed the Two Trillion mark, defying the difficult economic environment brought about by COVID-19.
This is after Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) recorded a monumental revenue collection of Sh2.031 Trillion for the Financial Year 2021/2022 (July 2021 – June 2022) compared to Sh1.669 Trillion collected in the last financial year (FY 2020/2021).
“We will ensure that there is a physical discipline, that nonpriority is dropped and we go to priority spending and I have given an example of operation and maintenance which is at Sh600 billion while salaries are less than that …that is totally unacceptable,”
The presidential candidate also promised to seal loopholes that have been repeatedly been exploited by cartels such as in the Agriculture and even the Fuel sector.
Azimio La Umoja’s Social Protection Fund
As part of their manifesto agendas, Odinga and Karua have promised to set aside a monthly stipend of Sh6,000 to needy and deserving households in order to assist them to live a dignified life.
The political outfit said that it will rely on data from the Kenya Bureau of Statistics to ensure only deserving Kenyans benefit from the prorate.
Hundreds of thousands of Kenyans are said to be living below the poverty line and unable to afford basic needs.
The Azimio government if elected into office will therefore be required to set aside about Sh144 billion annually for the programme with Sh12 billion to be spent monthly.
“Within three weeks, to 2 million families we will Send a Sh6,000 package which will also will act as a stimulus to the economy because it gives purchasing power to 2 million families which means like 8 million people,” said Karua.
Kenyans’ Reaction To The Debate
A section of Kenyans across social media dissected the near two-hour debate saying that the two candidates sought to address the most reverent issues as highlighted across their respective campaign trails.
Others however faulted the process for being ‘inconsequential’ to how they will vote while citing the questions were not ‘hard hitting’ nor fully addressed the challenges Kenyans face which forms the basis of both political outfits’ agenda while heading to the ballot.
The presidential debate will now take place next week on Tuesday July, 26,2022. The highlight of the two tier debate will be Raila Odinga battling it with William Ruto while George Wajackoyah battles it out with avid Mwaure Waihiga.
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