Azimio la Umoja deputy presidential candidate Martha Karua has expressed lack of trust in how the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is handling the electoral process.
With less than 30 days to the August 9 General Election, Karua is concerned that the IEBC is being vague about some of its operations – something she said does not cultivate trust from political players and voters.
Her sentiments come after Azimio flag bearer Raila Odinga urged the Wafula Chebukati-led electoral agency to have a manual voter register as a backup to electronic voter identification.
“Our country faces a crisis of leadership and a crisis of trust. We don’t trust ourselves and we don’t trust each other. That is why we keep on asking (sic) the IEBC because we can’t trust them and they are also not trusting themselves because if they did, they would give us an account of everything happening,” said Karua.
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“They would not dodge questions… the lack of trust in our institutions is a lack of trust in ourselves. It means professionals are not standing up for the country,” she added.
Karua was speaking during the launch of the “Million Women for Martha” campaign and movement in Nairobi, through which she targets to sway over three million registered voters to cast their vote in favour of Azimio la Umoja coalition.
She called on employees in public institutions such as returning officers at IEBC to remain committed and honest for a free and fair election.
“As returning officers, if you stood up for your country we would not have disputed elections. We talk of institutions but the institutions are you and me and we can choose to mess up or do the right thing,” said Karua.
Garlanded by Raila’s wife Ida Odinga, former nominated Senator Zipporah Kittony, Nairobi Woman Rep Esther Passaris and Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo, Karua vowed to be a good deputy to Raila should they win the election, by working for Kenyans.
She also hit out at the Kenya Kwanza camp over their agenda for women.
“I have heard the competition say they have more women at the ballot. It may be true but it depends with what they have been nominated for. I know that my candidate nominates women for winnable seats but I know of people who will nominate women in a category where it is impossible to win,” she observed.
Karua further said Raila is committed to empowering women. “When he (Raila) chose me as his running mate, he was not looking for a praise choir but someone with a stand and who is resolute,” she noted.
Ida recalled the instrumental role Karua and Raila played in the second liberation of the country, noting that it was now their time to take up the leadership mantle.
She recalled Karua’s efforts in legally representing Raila in the 1990s when he was detained for a third time.
“…after I saw her lead a team of 27 lawyers in representing Raila, it was testament to the fact that power is not in size but in the mind,” said Ida.
Ida further urged women to register for the ‘Million Women for Martha’ movement for Karua to reap the most number of votes from women.
