The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga has picked Martha Karua as his running mate for the August election.

Raila made the announcement at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) Nairobi on Monday, just a few hours before the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission’s Monday deadline.

"My dear Kenyans. Cometh the hour. Cometh the lady. I have the great honour to announce, that I have picked, as my running mate and Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Constitutional Affairs the honourable Martha Wangari Karua," Raila announced.

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The country expected the announcement on Sunday during an Azimio rally that was held in Kamukunji.

Karua who was present at the KICC accepted her nomination for the position of Raila's running mate.


"Ladies and gentlemen, beloved citizens, friends and family, with these few remarks, with utmost humility, I stand before you today to say that I Martha Wangari Karua do hereby proudly accept this nomination as deputy presidential candidate," Karua said.

Karua affirmed her readiness to walk your deputy and to support Raila in their shared ideals.


"I am ready to walk as your deputy and to support you in our shared ideals," she said.


The announcement follows a rigorous vetting process that was conducted by a seven-member panel that comprised eminent persons drawn from various religious faiths and political parties headed by the former Kwanza MP Noah Wekesa.


The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Running Mate Selection Panel submitted the names of the 3 candidates it shortlisted for the position of Raila’s running mate on Thursday.

However, the panel members remained tight-lipped about the names of the three names they submitted to Raila who was on a campaign trail in the coast region.


Raila has named his running mate just a day after his competitor William Ruto, under the Kenya Kwanza Alliance named Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua as his running mate on Sunday.

Martha Karua and Raila Odinga. PHOTO/COURTESY

With the IEBC deadline for submission of running mates elapsed, the political scene in the country is certainly about to take a serious turn with only 3 months remaining before the general election.