By Felix Olick
Narc-Kenya party leader Martha Karua has unveiled a secretariat to spearhead her presidential campaign and a comprehensive six-policy pillar as her manifesto.
The Gichugu MP appointed businessman Hussein Mohamed as the secretariat’s Chief Executive Officer.
Mr Mohamed, who was trounced in Federation of Kenya Football elections early this year by Sam Nyamweya, will now champion Ms Karua’s dream of becoming Kenya’s fourth president.
Speaking during the launch in Nairobion Tuesday, the Narc-Kenya leader said she is running for president to defend the Constitution, which guarantees all Kenyans a life of dignity and equality.
She pledged to end impunity and fight corruption if elected president.
“A Martha Karua presidency will erode the power of impunity through a new spirit of constitutionalism. I will fight corruption from the frontline and inspire a new faith in our public service. And you know that you can count on me for a realistic but faithful implementation of the Constitution,” she declared.
The Flower party leader said if elected president, she would prioritise and invest in national security, secure Kenya’s borders and engage the Diaspora through robust foreign policy.
“I would defend Kenya’s territorial integrity and prioritise the safety and security of border communities; and humanise our Police service through comprehensive reforms in entry qualifications, terms, equipment, and continuous professional training,” declared the Gichugu MP.
Karua further pledged to establish a Diaspora Investment Authority to encourage and secure investments of Kenyans living abroad.
She also promised to consolidate and market Kenya’s strategic advantage as regional, diplomatic, financial and technological hub.
She dismissed opinion polls and described pollsters as Kenyans trying to earn a living in a difficult economic environment.
“We are perturbed neither by pollsters nor opinion polls. They are just Kenyans trying to earn a living in a difficult economic environment,” she said. Before giving her speech, Karua asked those present to stand up and observe a minute of silence in honour of those who perished in the twin Garissa grenade attacks.
Narc-Kenya Secretary General Danson Mugatana accused President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga of failing to defend lives of Kenyans.
Mr Mugatana challenged the National Security Intelligence Service Director General Michael Gichangi to resign, saying he failed to give critical information to the country.
He also accused the Government of failing to unearth the cause of the helicopter crash that claimed lives of Internal Security Minister George Saitoti and his assistant Orwa Ojode.
