‘Come-We-Stay Marriage’ – Karua Slams The Raila-Ruto Deal And Calls For Transparency
Martha Karua, leader of the Narc Kenya Party, has slammed Raila Odinga, leader of the Azimio One Kenya Coalition Party, for his deal with President William Ruto in the newly formed broad-based government.
Karua, Odinga’s running mate in the 2022 presidential election, accused the former prime minister of betraying Kenyans by entering into ‘a come-we-stay marriage’ with President Ruto.
Karua, speaking on Citizen TV on Tuesday, criticized the manner in which the two leaders signed the agreement that resulted in the absorption of ODM Party members into Ruto’s Cabinet, calling it unconstitutional and a violation of the law.
“Whereas the Gen Z have been asking for transparency and accountability, these appointments have lowered the bar because they seek to violate the design of the Constitution, they also seek to lower the bar on accountability,” she said.
Martha Karua: It is not illegal to enter government but through the front door by forming a coalition, not the back door. But to have one leg in government and the other in opposition is basically blocking and watering down accountability #CitizenExplainer@YvonneOkwara pic.twitter.com/C1htovkiaA
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) August 6, 2024
“This (broad-based government) is a come-we-stay marriage, it is illegal, it is unconstitutional and it will lead to unconstitutionality in the conduct of the business of Parliament.”
Karua believes that ODM should have come out and relinquished its position as the Opposition majority party, allowing other affiliate parties to take on the role of the Opposition.
According to Karua, the Odinga-led ODM faction wants to enter government through the ‘backdoor’.
Raila initially denied any involvement in ODM MPs being nominated to Cabinet but later admitted that President Ruto approached him after his former cabinet failed to deliver on its mandate.
“A very interesting confession by my former boss… he first denied that ODM had entered government saying that they had entered as individuals,” she noted.
“Now what he is saying is obvious that he actually nominated them and gave them over to the government.”
She added, “ODM within Azimio was the leading Opposition coalition party and Azimio was the minority party.
“When ODM enters government and seems to deny through its party leader, then it wants to have its cake and eat it because it is going to be part of government and continue to hold minority seats that should be held by the next largest party, such as Wiper.”
Martha Karua: We expect probing questions, not a sweetheart deal. Basically, each one of those nominees was given a sweetheart deal, no probing questions. Kenyans had sent very many questions. I think the real vetting has been done by Gen Z online and a majority if not all of… pic.twitter.com/nah6ZinHGB
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) August 6, 2024
Karua claims that ODM is compromised and will be unable to hold the government accountable, particularly in the National Assembly, due to the Cabinet members’ nominations.
“You can imagine an ODM person questioning CSs who were his party bosses just a minute ago,” she noted.
“They may have relinquished their party posts but their relationship is of a senior person and a junior person within the party… even if they have left, that effect is there.
“ODM loses that moral right to hold to account or be a watchdog to CSs from their own party. That should be held by someone else.”
‘Come-We-Stay Marriage’ – Karua Slams The Raila-Ruto Deal And Calls For Transparency
