NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul, 20 – In front of the glaring cameras, as close to 42 million Kenyans followed up on the deputy presidential debate across various platforms, Azimio La Umoja – One Kenya Alliance presidential running mate, Martha Karua and United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Kenya Kwanza presidential running mate Rigathi Gachagua, set out to expound on their political manifestos and their dream for a better Kenya.
As a fiery debate raged on for close to two hours, during pockets of her submission, Karua, a no-nonsense career politician and social justice advocate sought to state her case as to why she would be a great deputy president alongside Azimio La Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga.
Under the old constitutional dispensation, the position of vice-president was viewed as merely a ‘ceremonial appointment’ with limited powers as the president reigned supreme and wielded almost all executive powers.
Under the constitution 2010, the position of deputy president was seen as more lucrative with more defined roles, most noticeably, the principal assistant to the president, deputizing he/she in the execution of the president’s functions.
In recent years, more specifically the second half of president Uhuru Kenyatta’s ten-year rule, William Ruto, his deputy, seemed to be out of favour with his boss as Kenyatta openly shunned him from his endeavours. A clear contrast from the initial years of the Jubilee government when they could barely ‘leave’ each other’s side.
After the events of March 9, 2018, what is now known as the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his one-time political nemesis Raila Odinga, the relationship between Kenyatta and Ruto changed forever. Noticeably for the worst.
A frosty relationship saw the two differ publicly on various government issues as the situation became even worse after Kenyatta endorsed Odinga for the presidency despite initially promising to back his deputy.
The outright ‘airing of their dirty linens’ formed part of the deputy presidential debate with Karua seeking to define the relationship between the president and his deputy.
“I have served as a cabinet minister for six and a half years, a cabinet minister is a delegate of the president. A deputy president is first among equals within the cabinet in being a delegate of the president, it is not a different position,” said Karua.
“There is nothing wrong with the architecture of our constitution, there is something wrong with our behaviour. It is not that we need to amend to prescribe the relationship between the president and a deputy president, it is that we need to change our behaviour, differ with respect, maintain deference for people who are above us., that even if we differ, the way you address them is in a way that tomorrow you can be able to once again sit and work together,”
The deterioration between Kenyatta and Ruto’s relationship has gone from bad to worse with both individuals faulting each other public.
Karua said that though it was perfectly natural to differ with your boss, it was even better to seek channels of resolving disputes.
“Even when people have differences because it is not possible for human beings to think alike…that is why even the constitution acknowledges the diversity of opinions, it is imperative that all debates or disagreements or arguments on issues happen in-house and that what is brought to the public must be the result of the agreement on the position and I think I am very well prepared and I will continue to play and address my mind that, the overall leader is the president,”
As a champion and advocate of law and order, Karua said that she will do her best to advise her ‘captain’ in order to deliver their constitutional mandate to Kenyans.
The presidential running mate termed arguing and hurling insults to one’s boss as a disgrace and uncouth behaviour not befitting the office of deputy president.
Karua said that in Raila Odinga, she has a partner, a captain that will steer the country in the right direction. She further said that their politics are in line since they both champion social justice issues.
“It is true that both I and my captain are projects but the projects of the people of Kenya whom my captain consulted and by public demand, he was called upon to take leadership at a time our country desperately needs leadership, he has offered leadership and I was competitively elected, unlike my friend who was handpicked. I faced an interviewing panel and through demands of Kenyans and through many endorsements, I was elected,”
Raila and Karua first met during the agitation for the country’s second liberation as opposition politicians sought to reintroduce multi-party democracy in Kenya.
Karua was first elected into parliament in 1992.
Their relationship fluctuated throughout the years and is even said to have been frosty at one point during the grand coalition government when Odinga was Prime Minister and Karua Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
While calling out Ruto and accusing him of failing to resign despite criticizing the government and allegedly’ ‘sabotaging’ projects, Karua said that though Odinga differed with Kibaki, they always resolved their issues.
“My principal differed with Mwai Kibaki but all he said to the public was that I was not consulted ..how they went backroom and resolved, we never knew, we only knew they came out with a unanimous decision,”
She also made reference to her decision to decision after differing with the former late president.
“For those who do not understand principles, they can never envisage resigning but I do think it is dishonest to continue to take public salary, to take the privilege and all that that goes with the office when you well know you can no longer deliver either because of differences or other things,”
“I respectively withdrew myself from Mwai Kibaki’s government in a respectful manner….but in six and a half years which I served,I never publicly berated the government that I served, to the president that I served, I just said that my hands were tied and I withdrew,”
Karua would contest the presidency in 2013 and would work with Odinga after the election under the Coalitions for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) before 2017 opting to support president Kenyatta and his Jubilee government.
Years later, their relationship now seems to be on an upward trajectory, partners, leading a crusade of battling corruption and spurring growth and development in Kenya.
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