The NARC-Kenya party leader Martha Karua has explained her reasons for believing the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga should be the next president of the country.

Karua was speaking to the people of Laikipia on Tuesday when she was in the county for the manifesto launch of Gubernatorial candidate Gitonga Kabugi and Senator Candidate PS Thuita Mwangi and spread the Azimio gospel.


She told the people of Laikipia that she was looking for a leader with whom she could work together to protect the interests and resources and settled on Raila

“The few we could protect your resources and found the leader of Azimio. Someone who has fought for the rights of Kenyans in his entire life,” Karua said.

Karua said it is only Raila who has always fought for the rights of Kenyans regardless of whether he is voted in or not. She emphasised Raila is a dependable person and cautioned the public against individuals who do not have a record of fighting for their rights.

“Even if we do not vote for him to become president, he still gets up and continues with his work and throughout all the years he has fought for you and you know that,” Karua said.

“That is someone we can trust with fighting for our rights when he is the president. If someone has not yet fought for a Kenyan even for a single day, if someone doesn’t have that record, whatever he promises you just know that he can turn against you the following day. Do not entrust the hyena with the responsibility of looking after your sheep, and that is my first reason for being in Azimio la Umoja.”

The former Gichugu Member of Parliament also said her other reason for supporting Raila is because of his pledge to fight graft.

Karua said she knows Raila can fight graft in the country because they have worked together and she knows he has the potential to end the vice.

She also cautioned the citizens that if they elect a corrupt government, they will lose their fundamental rights.

“The second reason is that he has promised to fight graft. If a government won’t fight graft, then you will miss your rights, your rights to medicine, the youth will lose their rights to employment, and you will even lose your rights to security because all the resources will have been misused. He has promised to deal with corruption and we have worked together with him in President Kibaki’s government and I know he has the potential and that’s why I joined him,” Karua said.

She challenged the people to ask anyone who tries to woo them to join the other political formations to give them only three reasons they should cross the floor.

“I do not even want to give you more reasons but let those who are persuading you to join the other camp tell you only three reasons they think you should join the other camp. This is not a matter of fighting, but understanding which side you should choose and realise why I joined Azimio la Umoja,” she posed the challenge.

She also appealed to Kenyans to join the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition in order to rescue the country from the jaws of destruction.

“I appeal to you fellow citizens to join Azimio la Umoja so that we can rescue our country,” Karua appealed.

She urged the people of Laikipia to ponder on her words and they will clearly see that the only person who is ready to stand with them is Raila.

“The people of Laikipia even if you do not believe me today, even if you have not digested this just sleep on it and you will realise those who endear themselves to you, the only person who is ready to stand with Kenyans is none other than Raila Amolo Odinga,” she said.

She also promised them that many things will be possible when Kenya has Raila as the president, hence the response of their slogan Azimio is ‘It is possible’


Karua preached to the people of Laikipia to shun violence or quarrelling because of politics. She advised people to be tolerant and respect other people’s rights to have different opinions.

“There is no point in fighting if you find your fellow Kenyan who is in another political camp because they have the right to be in the other camp. Just talk to them and explain your reasons for being in this camp and if you persuade them, they will cross over to your side, but insulting them is akin to sending them away and telling them you should not be together,” Karua said.

Furthermore, Karua told Kenyans not to vote along party lines but weigh the political aspirants before voting them on merit.