Narc-K leader Martha Karua has vowed to continue rallying behind the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition regardless of whether she will be picked as the movement’s running mate.
Addressing hundreds of her party’s supporters in Nyeri today, the former Gichugu legislator insists her decision to support Azimio la Umoja -One Kenya presidential flag bearer Raila Odinga was not out of persuasion but due their shared political past that dates back to the late President Daniel Moi’s one-party rule.
“I decided to back Raila Odinga for the presidency due to our shared long political history which stretches as far back as 1992. Our paths met again in 2002 during the height of the Kibaki Tosha rapture when Raila endorsed Kibaki to be the National Rainbow Coalition presidential ticket. My decision to join Raila as my preferred presidential candidate for the August 9 election is therefore firm whether I became his running mate or not,” she told the cheering sea of her party’s supporters at the Step Wing Hotel lawns.
Yesterday Karua was among five candidates who had appeared before the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya select panel to be considered for the deputy president’s slot.
Others who met the panel which is led by former Cabinet Minister Noah Wekesa include Murang’a Woman Rep Sabina Chege, Governors Hassan Joho (Mombasa) and Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega) and Lee Kinyanjui (Nakuru).
The fiery lawmaker has also cautioned residents of Mt Kenya Region to avoid falling prey to external influences and fail to unite under one banner terming the move as tantamount to burning one’s house upon receiving an invite to a friend’s house.
She said voters should learn to support home grown political formations in order to nurture the political base of their regions to enable them to have a united voice at national level.
She has also advised voters to scrutinise those seeking political seats to ensure they have impeccable track records saying many of those seeking top political seats have tainted records through graft.
“As people of this region, what kind of leadership do you want? If someone can lay his political career for the sake of the country, what else are we looking for? No other political formation has presented values that can rival those of Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition presidential flag bearer Raila Odinga,” she insisted.
Karua singled out Babacare ,and the proposed Social Safety Net which form part of Raila’s election manifesto as some of the things the country stands to gain once the coalition rides into power.
Former UNCTAD Secretary General Dr Mukhisa Kituyi who was present during the meeting urged the Mount Kenya region to rally behind Azimio la Umoja -One Kenya alliance coalition warning the region risks being consigned into political oblivion should they decide to go separate ways.
Drawing cue from the region’s rich historical heritage that has seen it produce eminent national leaders such as former Mau Mau freedom icon Dedan Kimathi, world celebrated environmentalist Professor Wangari Maathai and the late retired President Mwai Kibaki.
Kituyi reminded the region not to let that heritage go to the dogs by failing to nurture similar future leaders.
“You are heirs of a people with the pride of patriotism for Kenya. Do not become descendants who narrow yourself to village politics. You say your best political leader is Martha Karua.It means you are not thinking about tomorrow but rather about today. If you have a leader who is not vying for the presidency, build her to become one in the future,” he advised.
Others who attended the meeting included former Mukurweini MP Kabando wa Kabando who has announced his intention to run for the Nyeri Senatorial seat on a Narc Kenya ticket.