Martha Karua tells Raila to his face she rejects broad-based govt
People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua has taken a swipe at the government’s broad-based governance plans in a tense gathering also attended by her former party leader, Raila Odinga.
Speaking during the event, which was the burial of Laban Murungi in Wiiru, Maara Constituency, Tharaka Nithi County, on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, Karua insisted that Kenyans should have the liberty to decide for themselves whether they support it or not, making it crystal clear that she personally wanted nothing to do with it.
“It is the right of those who believe that broad-based governance is the path to take. That is why I remain firm in my opposition to it and resolutely stand with the people. Today, we must continue scrutinising government and its policies,” she declared.
Driving her point home, Karua maintained that Kenyans must persist in poking holes in government schemes, ensuring they remain at the forefront of holding it accountable when things go awry.
In her words, the government has been making a habit of pushing through policies without sufficiently engaging the public, and she stressed that Kenyans must invoke the constitution, which grants them the authority to demand better when leaders fail to deliver.
She added that this was precisely why the framers of the constitution established Kenya as a multiparty democracy—to have both a minority and majority side so that one can keep the other in check.
“And now, we are witnessing abductions, executions, and massive looting of public funds while essential services continue to suffer. We must keep rejecting this deception, where one cannot even distinguish what is what. We must demand funding for education. That is why the architects of our constitution ensured Kenya remains a multiparty democracy—so that in Parliament, there will always be a strong opposition to question those in power,” she stated.
However, in her view, the broad-based government dismisses this constitutional principle.
She further opined that this arrangement between Ruto and ODM was nothing but a calculated move to strip Kenyans of a crucial right, allowing them to amass unchecked control over the nation.
Reiterating her stance, Karua urged those pushing for the deal to ensure that even if they claim to be rolling it out for the right reasons, they do not sidestep the constitution—warning that she would be swift to call them out should they overstep.
“But when you merge, as is unfolding with the broad-based government, you deny the people the power to challenge the government from a position of strength. So while I respect those who support it, I still insist that they must operate within the law,” she concluded.
Karua acknowledges Raila’s presence
Amid her firm opposition to the broad-based government, Karua took a moment to express gratitude to Siaya residents for turning up in large numbers to the burial and to Raila Odinga for his unwavering support of the bereaved family.
She acknowledged his presence and went further to recall the turbulent political season when she campaigned alongside him, facing immense hostility, yet the people eventually took a step back, reevaluated, and chose to move forward.
For this, she hailed that politics is not for the faint-hearted and shared that the ability to endure setbacks and still push on is what defines true leadership.
“I want to thank the people of Siaya for coming in huge numbers, for Raila himself for coming, and for the strong support of this family. Last season, I campaigned with Baba amid great hostility. Mlirudi, mkatulia na tunaendelea. Politics is not for the faint-hearted.”
