Martha Karua says power cannot change her
By David Nthua, February 15, 2026Good governance advocate and People’s Liberation Party Leader Martha Karua has sworn that power cannot make her switch.
In an exclusive interview with a local TV station on Sunday, February 15, 2026, Martha Karua said it is easy to know whether someone will change once they get into a position of influence by simply looking at their track record.
Karua, who has built her public image around governance and accountability, maintained that her principles have remained consistent from her early days in public service.
“I think the way to know is to look at somebody’s past. Ever since my adulthood, through the public spaces I have worked in, I have been a stickler for the rule of law, respect for human rights, and democracy,” she said.
Karua explained that her stance on governance issues has not shifted over the years.
According to her, commitment to the rule of law and democratic values is not something that begins after attaining power, but something that is demonstrated long before.
She added that her fight against corruption has been steady and at times costly.
“My fight against corruption has been constant; it is one of the things we differed on,” she noted, referring to past political disagreements.
Consistency in public service
Karua also revisited her time during the Moi era, saying she was among those who spoke out when it was unpopular to do so.
“Throughout the Moi era, when people were not speaking out, we were speaking out, risking and eventually taken to court to be injuncted against talking politics,” she recalled.
Her remarks have sparked conversation among Kenyans online, with many debating whether leaders truly remain the same once they ascend to higher office.
Karua’s message centred on consistency, arguing that personal values and history offer the clearest indication of how someone might behave in power. For many of her supporters, her long-standing public record forms the basis of trust, while critics continue to scrutinise her political journey.
As conversations around leadership and accountability continue, Karua maintains that her past speaks for her future.