Martha Karua reflects on life: Being a grandmother has given me the deepest perspective
By Valerian Khakayi, September 22, 2026Martha Karua has opened up about how becoming a grandmother has changed the way she views life, time, and the future.
In a reflective message, Karua shared how watching her granddaughter grow has given her a different perspective on her own journey and the kind of country she hopes to leave behind for the next generation.
Karua recalled that when she first ran for president, her granddaughter was still a baby. Today, she is a young teenager.
“And that is how quietly time moves. You look at the people you love and begin to wonder what kind of country you are leaving for them,” she said on Tuesday, September 22,2026.
For Karua, grandmotherhood has become more than a family title, giving her an opportunity to reflect on the experiences and choices that have shaped her life.
She said her journey has closely followed Kenya’s own story, having been six years old when the country attained independence.
“I was six when Kenya became independent, old enough to remember the excitement but young enough not to understand its enormity,” she reflected.
Karua noted that both she and the country have grown and changed over the years, experiencing moments of promise, disappointment, courage, and renewal.
Political journey
She also reflected on her journey into public life, saying she learned not to ask for space but to step into it, particularly at a time when political spaces were largely occupied by men.
Her political journey has included defending the Constitution and challenging the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), which sought to introduce changes to the 2010 Constitution.
In 2022, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga picked Karua as his running mate in the presidential election, making her the first woman to occupy the position on a major presidential ticket in Kenya.
As she reflected on the years behind her, Karua said she has come to understand that the work of a lifetime is not defined by one major moment but by the choices a person makes and whether they continue showing up when things become difficult.
Karua, however, made it clear that her political journey is far from over.
“At 69, I know the work is unfinished,” she said, before declaring her intention to seek the presidency again.
“I am still here. Still believing in what Kenya can become. And once again, I am offering myself to serve her as president!” she added.