Martha Karua Denies Eyeing National Assembly Speaker Role in 2027: "I Can't Return to Parliament"
- Some media reports had alluded to PLP leader Martha Karua being the opposition's pick for the National Assembly's speakership
- Such an arrangement would dislodge her from the race for the presidency, having declared her bid
- Karua clarified that there is no such agreement, further explaining that she doesn't intend to return to the legislature in any capacity, having served as an MP for two decades until 2012
Eli Odaga, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
People's Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua has discredited the reports that she has been designated to be accorded the speakership of the National Assembly in the opposition's power arrangement.
Source: Twitter
Karua and her party belong to the united opposition that has on board a host of other political bigwigs who have declared their resolve to unseat President William Ruto in the 2027 presidential vote.
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Who are united opposition's principals?
Others in the coalition include DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper party's Kalonzo Musyoka, Eugene Wamalwa (DAP Kenya), Fred Matiang'i, who has been backed by the Jubilee Party, and Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya.
A section of the media had asserted that the team had settled on Kalonzo as its flagbearer, with either Matiang'i or Eugene being his running mate.
Others, like Gachagua and Karua, would be posted to other influential roles within their government, including a position akin to a prime minister and the National Assembly's speakership; Karua was mentioned for the latter.
Does Karua want to be National Assembly speaker?
Speaking about the matter, the PLP leader dismissed the reports as unfounded political gossip.
She said the team had not sat to deliberate on the mechanism to approach the election with, including which principals to represent the faction on the presidential ballot.
Besides, Karua said she had served for a long time in parliament representing Gichugu constituency, hence it was not in her plans to return to the legislature in whatever capacity.
"The lineup I have seen is just an individual's opinion. As one of the principals, this issue would have been brought to all of us to discuss it. We have not been briefed about it," she said.
Source: Facebook
Karua added that the strategy with which they would face Ruto, including the viable flagbearer, was being worked on by respective technical committees from across the parties.
"We have a committee making our transformational agenda. All those will be ratified by the principals. Which criteria is the lineup based on? We have not reached where we can say who represents us. We are working on the mechanisms. That was just a sensational bit. I was in parliament for four consecutive terms, and then unsuccessfully contested for the presidency. I can't go back to parliament in any capacity. Right now, I can serve as an MCA. I am content with the 20 years I served in parliament," she said in interview with Ramogi Radio.
Who is fit to face off with Ruto from opposition?
At the same time, Gachagua dismissed the power arrangement talk, claiming they were maliciously sponsored to the media by the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
Speaking in Boston, the DCP leader said the united opposition had not met to discuss the election strategies as of yet.
He, however, restated his resolve to champion his candidacy to face off with Ruto.
Whilst he is open to supporting other candidates within their faction, the former deputy president insisted is the viable candidate to take on Ruto head-on.
It is not lost that impeached people in Kenya are not allowed near public offices, either through elections or appointments.
Gachagua has nonetheless held that he holds the right to contest for the presidency by virtue of his unresolved case in the High Court challenging his impeachment.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
