Presidential flag bearer of Azimio la Umoja One Kenya, Raila Odinga has nominated Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua as his running mate.
Odinga made the unveiling at Kenyatta International Convention Centre, praising Ms Karua for her dedication and defence of human rights.
“I needed a true Joshua on my corner, one who will not be a turn coat. After along search and reflection, together with consultation, I have arrived at the decision that the holder of this position must be a woman,” Odinga said.
He explained that : “The office of the DP is a workshop which cannot compete with the presidency. The holder must be a co-worker”
“I also nominate Kenneth Marende as the speaker of the senate. I also nominate Oparanya as CS for Treasury,” he said.
Odinga also proposed Peter Munya as CS Agriculture and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho as CS for lands, to deal with the land issues especially at the coast.
In her acceptance speech, Ms Karua said she was elated to deputise Odinga. She went on to congratulate her other running mates hopefuls.
“I am deeply honored by the decision to nominate me as the deputy president of the coalition. i am aware of the responsibility and this nomination is a collective honour that cannot be left f me alone to savor. It is personal journey but also a national journey,” she said.
She explained; “We are going to do more in the area of social-economic rights. Together, we can finally bring to life the dreams deferred.” she said.
Martha Karua’s choice has split Azimio which saw Wiper Kenya party leader Kalonzo Musyoka bolt out.
In a separate press conference, Musyoka wished Ms Karua well.
“I wish Raila’s running mate Martha Karua well. We have agreed to go our separate ways. I told Raila the decision to pick Karua will be met with a lot of opposition. OKA will be alone and very soon Wiper will be launching its own manifesto,” he said.
Ms Karua, who joined the Azimio team in March has been crisscrossing the country drumming up support for Odinga.
Last week, she attended the running mate interviews where she said she would accept the verdict of the interviewing panel.
“I went for the interviews without any set conditions… I went knowing the situation there and I will continue working with them regardless of the outcome,” she said.
She went on to drum up support for Odinga, saying that his record was unparalleled to anyone opposing his candidature.
At the risk of being blacklisted by the Kanu regime, she defended several human rights activists.
Ms Karua would later plunge into politics and was elected MP for Gichugu constituency in 1992 and became the Democratic Party’s legal affairs secretary in 1993.
She was one time minister for Water Resources Management and Development in the late President Mwai Kibaki’s administration between 2003 and 2008 before she was appointed minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs, where she served until April 6, 2009.
She is celebrated for championing the Water Act 2002, which accelerated the pace of water governance and improved related services across Kenya.