I’m not a spoiler, Karua tells critics

By NATION CORRESPONDENT
Posted Sunday, October 3 2010 at 22:00

Former Justice Minister Martha Karua has dismissed claims she is derailing central Kenya’s chance to retain the presidency at the next General Election.

“There is a lot of political pressure to frame me up as a political spoiler in Mount Kenya region where intensive campaigns are going on for endorsement of a single presidential candidate, but what Kenyans should learn is that as long as the political contest is competitive, no one should feel intimidated,” the Gichugu MP (right) said.

Success isn’t bought

She told a women’s conference in Nakuru that everyone had a constitutional right to vie for any position.

She added: “My resolve to seek the country’s presidency does not mean I am opposed to central Kenya’s unity.”

The Narc-Kenya party leader warned that it was presumptuous to front some leaders as President Kibaki’s heir-apparent because the decision would be made by Kenyans and not by some special interest group.

She challenged women to seek elective positions, saying: “When I first contested the Gichugu parliamentary seat, my competitors had a lot of money to spend while I had none, yet they failed to go through.”

The successive years she has won the seat due to her development record had further disproved the cash factor, Ms Karua said.

She would not vie for the seat of governor or Senator in Kirinyaga county, she said.