‘I Am Azimio’s Deputy, Simple’: Karua Shrugs Off Kalonzo’s Succession Speculations
Martha Karua, the leader of the Narc-Kenya party, has dismissed Kalonzo Musyoka’s claim that he is the most suitable candidate to lead the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition if Raila Odinga assumes the role of Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC).
Odinga is competing to take over from Chad’s Moussa Faki as the head of the African Union’s executive branch when Faki’s term expires next year. Currently, he has secured support from eight presidents.
Consequently, Musyoka has been publicly asserting his preparedness and appropriateness to assume leadership within Azimio, the overarching coalition to which his and Karua’s party is affiliated.
However, in an interview with the Daily Nation published on Thursday, Karua asserted that the question of who would take over as the Azimio leader if he secures the AUC role in Addis Ababa is irrelevant, given her position as the coalition’s deputy.
“If I’m the deputy, is that a question? Even in small organizations like a school, when the headmaster goes to a meeting in Nairobi, who acts? It is the deputy,” the former justice minister told the newspaper.
“If we are unable to follow simple basic rules, then something is very wrong with us.”
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Kalonzo, aged 70, has often hesitated to pursue the country’s highest office, opting instead to back Odinga, who at 79, has made several unsuccessful attempts at the presidency.
Lately, the ex-vice president has been quoted affirming his intention to be President William Ruto’s primary opponent in the 2027 elections, asserting his capability to lead the Azimio movement.
Karua, aged 66, served as Odinga’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2022 elections and asserts that Azimio remains robust. She emphasizes her commitment to strengthening Narc-Kenya.
“… Before His Excellency Raila put in his bid for AUC, we all agreed, go build your party, the strength of the party is the strength of Azimio. He’s done very well building ODM and I’m following in his footsteps in building Narc Kenya. That is my main task now,” Karua told the Daily Nation.
Musyoka’s remarks about the perceived demise of Karua’s faction of Mount Kenya leaders within Azimio, known as the Kamwene Caucus, have not deterred the Narc-Kenya leader. She asserts her determination to persist despite the criticism.
“If he could first agree that having a party that is just in one place… if he could apply that,” she told the Wiper leader, adding, “His views notwithstanding, let him do his thing and we do ours.”
‘I Am Azimio’s Deputy, Simple’: Karua Shrugs Off Kalonzo’s Succession Speculations