Karua reveals first salary as elected MP
PLP party leader Martha Karua has revealed that her first salary upon being elected as a Member of Parliament in 1993 was Ksh5,000.
She went on to say that Parliament has now become a glamorous job, with MPs earning six-figure salaries—unlike in the past, when they earned Ksh5,000 with total allowances amounting to just Ksh 19,000.
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Karua, while speaking to Kenyans living in Seattle, USA, on Saturday, July 12, 2025, explained that, back then, she had to support her political work through her legal practice.
“These days, parliament is a glamour job; they earn six figures, not Ksh5000, which I got as a salary after being elected in 1993, together with marupurupu ilikuwa. Ksh19k My politics was supported by my legal office,” Karua stated.
She lamented that today’s MPs are more focused on making money than serving the people who elected them.
According to her, many MPs neglect their duties in Parliament, which often fails to attain quorum because members are busy chasing tenders for personal gain.
She added that the same trend is seen at the county level, where MCAs and even senators are preoccupied with self-enrichment.
“Today, it is a glamorous job; people are coming for money. When they reach parliament, they become tenderpreneurs. In parliament there is no quorum on any day they are there to check on their tenders; the MCAs are doing so at the county level, and the senators are just salivating,” Karua said.
Karua went further, stating that once in power, her government will restructure the civil service and review the salaries of politicians currently in office.
Presidential ambitions
In the same meeting, Karua made it clear that she will not take up the role of a running mate again, as she did in 2022.
“In case you hadn’t known, I am vying for the presidency. I said I am done with running mate business, having finished that era in 2022,” Martha Karua said.
Karua stated that she is committed to being on the ballot as a presidential candidate and is actively working towards that goal. She emphasised that if the opposition settles on another candidate, she will fully support the decision but will not accept a deputy role. According to her, the focus is now on winning the top seat.
“But I am also ready. If in the unlikely event another person is chosen as a candidate, I will subordinate my ambitions and support without being a running mate because Kenya is bigger than anyone else, but for now I am working so hard, and I’m going to work day and night to be that candidate,” she added.
She highlighted her dedication to upholding the rule of law, noting that Kenya’s governance issues stem from its consistent disregard. With a strong legal background and years of public service, Karua believes she is well-positioned to lead the country.
