By Samuel Ouma
Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has picked the former Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister and Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua as his running mate.
The Duo are the flagbearers of the Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya Alliance in the presidential elections slated for August 9, 2022.
Speaking at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Nairobi, on Monday, Odinga said he had been keen on having a running mate they could share ideology with and one who could be relied on.
He also added that he wanted his deputy to be a woman.
“My dear comrades, I have picked as my running mate, and Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, the honourable Martha Wangari Karua,” said Odinga.
“I will describe this woman – at the age of 24; she became one of the youngest magistrates. She was also among the youngest parliamentarians when elected to office in 1992. When I was arrested and placed in detention, she led a team of 27 lawyers who defended me at great personal risk,” he explained.
Martha Karua was among the 11 candidates who appeared for vetting before a selection panel that shortlisted three candidates and forwarded the names to Odinga for a final decision.
Other candidates were Sabina Chege (Jubilee Party), Peter Kenneth (Jubilee Party), Ali Hassan Joho (ODM) and Stephen Tarus (National Liberal Party). Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper Party), and Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya, deputy ODM leader Wycliffe Oparanya and Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui.
After the interview, the panel submitted three names to Odinga for consideration.
Odinga team will face Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza coalition. Ruto had settled for MP Rigathi Gachagua as his running mate.
