Karua has been strong Kibaki defender

By Cyrus Ombati and David Ochami

Ms Martha Karua’s resignation may have been a setback to President Kibaki given her prominent role since the 2007 General Election crisis.

More than any other PNU top figure, Karua stood up for Kibaki in the hour of his greatest need in the aftermath of the 2007 election, starting at the KICC tallying centre right through to the Kofi Annan mediated talks at the Serena Hotel.

She was among those who spent sleepless nights at KICC defending PNU against allegations of election fraud by ODM.

She could be seen moving from one point to the other to ensure the issue was addressed and results announced.

This was after heated arguments between ODM and PNU MPs with regard to election results that were trickling in.

PNU, led by Karua, argued the General Election was free and fair while Lands Minister James Orengo said the election had been rigged.

After arguments on how and where to begin the verification, work began with Mr Orengo insisting that results for all 210 constituencies be reviewed while Karua wanted scrutiny to be limited to Forms 16A of contested constituencies, which she said had to be identified and agree on.

Huge irregularities

According to Karua, the identification was necessary since the discrepancies and problems associated with tallying were in constituencies that the ODM identified, mostly in Central and Eastern provinces but also in Nyanza and Rift Valley.

The teams settled on 44 constituencies that they were to verify before reporting to the Electoral Commission of Kenya.

And as the verification went on Karua, complained there too many election observers, prompting domestic observers to move.

After burning the midnight oil verifying the contested results PNU and ODM came out before the then ECK Chairman Samuel Kivuitu said he was ready to announce the results.

She was later appointed to be a mediator in the negotiations.

No rigging

Speculations were rife when the Cabinet she could be appointed the Deputy PM on the PNU side but that never happened as the President chose Mr Uhuru Kenyatta.

And on Monday, the embattled Karua was in her element as she announced her resignation from the Kibaki Cabinet.

She was defiant and unrepentant about her long alliance with the President and her defence of Kibaki’s controversial re-election on December 30 2007.

However, she warned any politicians against hoping to harness her for their purposes following her departure.

"I still think there was no rigging at KICC," she said referring to the tallying centre for the presidential election where Karua led the President’s re-election team.

She faced off the ODM team at KICC for two days in the chaotic recount of votes that yielded to a countrywide revolt after Kibaki was declared winner.

She said: "I stood not just for the President. I stood for my country... and the Kriegler Report vindicated me."

Karua also warned she would not be used by anybody referring to forces opposed to Kibaki that are expected to seek her hand.

"I can confirm that my quest to become the chief executive of the country remains on course.

"I will continue to participate in national building as a backbencher but will not support anything that is opaque and amounts to corruption."

Then she declared: "Nobody should try to hijack what I am doing for their political gain."

Meanwhile, Justice Assistant Minister William Cheptumo said yesterday that Parliament and the Government must strive to implement Agenda Four to institute institutional, land and parliamentary reform.

He said the agenda would address historical imbalances, unemployment, poverty and long-term stability of the Kenya.

He said Karua’s departure from the ministry was a ‘personal decision’ and added that "political will and support of civil society, Government and all Kenyans" was necessary to achieve Agenda Four.