Karua: I am not going for anything less than the presidency
Politics
By
Mike Kihaki
| Jul 13, 2025
People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua has declared her intent to run for the presidency in the next general elections, stating she will not deputise any candidate.
Addressing the Kenyan diaspora community in Seattle, Washington, during a joint forum with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Karua emphasized that the time for second-tier roles is long gone.
"I'm done with the running mate business. That era ended in 2022. This time, I'm going for nothing less than the presidency. I'm working day and night to be that candidate, because I believe Kenya deserves ethical, principled, and visionary leadership," she said.
Karua said she would nevertheless support whoever emerges as the opposition candidate but without accepting a deputy role.
READ MORE
Experts slam 'temporary fixes' to Kenya's Sh12.6tr debt
While Rwanda charts a clear path forward, Kenya is getting it all wrong
1,100 face job losses as Meta severs ties with Kenyan content moderator
Lawyer: Move to reduce VAT to 8 per cent by Treasury unconstitutional though a relief to Kenyans
State's appetite for domestic debt to grow with fuel VAT cut
Stocks rise as optimism over Mideast war takes hold
New 2030 plan targets billions in financing for farmers and MSMEs
Three Kenyan startups picked for Africa eye health accelerator
Maina named Vision 2030 acting director
Kenyan firms eye Caribbean footprint as Afreximbank seals St Kitts trade forum deal
"If, in the unlikely event, another person is chosen, I will subordinate my support but not as a running mate. Because Kenya is bigger than any one of us," she said.
Karua reaffirmed her commitment to a united opposition movement but stressed that the struggle for Kenya's liberation requires everyone.
"Liberating Kenya cannot be done by one leader, one party, or one region. It has to be done by all people of goodwill. Our call is simple: Unite. Liberate," she stated.
She reiterated that the move is not only changing names but also changing how things are done.
"It's about integrity, justice, and service. If we don't enforce the law in real time, if we let impunity reign, our dreams of better governance will be wasted. We must kill impunity by ensuring no one is above the law," said Karua.
Karua also criticized the current administration's handling of protests, human rights, and the Constitution.
Drawing comparisons with the previous regimes, decrying what she described as a "total eclipse" of the Constitution and a regression into authoritarianism.
"We never had 60 people killed in one day, even during sabasaba. But now, we have an unrepentant system one that issues shoot-to-kill orders and mocks accountability," she said, referring to recent protest crackdowns.