Karua unveils campaign financing platform

Karua unveils campaign financing platform Written By:Wangari Kanyongo,    Posted: Sat, Jul 28, 2012

Hon. Karua is on record as saying her campaign will be financed by all Kenyans through small donations that go as low as Kshs.10 Presidential aspirant and Gichugu Member of Parliament Martha Karua has unveiled Kenya's first-ever people driven campaign financing platform on social media. Dubbed "Simama Na Mama Na Mia",  the platform made its debut on popular social media Twitter and Facebook Friday night even as she hosted a fundraising dinner for her campaign  at a Nairobi hotel. Karua urged Kenyans to take ownership of political and governance affairs of this country by financially supporting the leadership they deserve so that they can live the quality of life they deserve. Karua appealed to all citizens to contribute whatever they could to support aspirants who can help move Kenya forward. "It is time to issue a red card to campaign bribery and voter buying. It is time to act. We have sung the anti-corruption song for too long. But corruption starts with politicians buying you and your vote. By accepting to be bribed you become their accomplice. They are essentially buying your silence for the next five years as they engage in corrupt deals to recoup the money they bribed you with."She said. She assured her supporters that she is in the campaign trail for the long haul with her eyes set on the presidency where she hopes to embark on transformative leadership the country "Since you are the one who took the money and sold them your vote, there is nothing you can do but suffer silently for five years. But we can change that. We can start on a clean slate this time round. The Kenyan voter is the game-changer: she/he can own the politician by changing the politics of big money into politics of merit. Back-up good leaders with whatever you can. Mobilize for them, volunteer any service. Just do something good. "the NARC-Kenya party leader added. Kenyans on social media have lauded the campaign as an innovative and exciting way to get ordinary Kenyans and especially the youth to boldly participate in election and governance issues in Kenya. Karua says her campaign will be financed by all Kenyans through small donations that go as low as 10 shillings, in a radical departure from a system where large cartels finance election campaigns through huge donations to secure political patronage. Karua has established herself as a trendsetter in the Kenyan Presidential race and  has had several firsts. She was the first candidate to formally announce her presidential bid; her NARC-Kenya party was the first to receive a certificate of compliance with the Political Parties Act; she was the first to set up a social media conference through her weekly #AskMarthaThurs; she was the first to formally share her Policy Pillars with Kenyans and has visited the most counties among all presidential aspirants.