Karua Defends Her Decision to Resign from Mwai Kibaki’s Cabinet

Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition party presidential running mate Martha Karua has defended her decision to resign from the late former president Mwai Kibaki’s cabinet in 2009.

This was after her Kenya Kwanza Alliance counterpart Rigathi Gachagua called her out during the Deputy Presidential Debate on Tuesday evening, accusing her of abandoning Kibaki when he needed her most.

Gachagua, who is Deputy President William Ruto’s running mate, claimed that the fact that Karua was unable to work with Kibaki whom he described as “the gentleman of Kenyan politics” means she cannot serve under anybody else, terming her a quitter.

“I don’t think it is honorable to be a quitter, I think you must fight from within and pursue what you intended to do. Martha Karua quit President Kibaki’s government when Kibaki needed her; when Kibaki was in trouble, when Raila Odinga was making life impossible for him,” said Gachagua.

“Mwai Kibaki needed Martha Karua. And at a time when Martha Karua needed to assist Mwai Kibaki, she quit. Mwai Kibaki is and has been the gentleman of Kenya’s politics; an amiable old man, a good man, a respectable man, a man who was listening to everybody. Any leader who could not work with Mwai Kibaki, I have serious doubt that leader can work with anybody else.”

But in her defense, Karua stated that she respectfully stepped down as the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs because of principles, insisting that resigning from a government you no longer believe in is the only honorable thing to do.

She also took a swipe at Ruto for remaining in government and continuing to draw public salary despite his fall out with President Kenyatta.

“For those who don’t understand principle, they can never envisage resigning. But I do think it is dishonest to continue to take public salary, to take the privilege and all that goes with office, when you know you can no longer deliver because of differences or other things,” said Karua.

“I respectfully withdrew myself by resignation from Mwai Kibaki’s government, no name calling, such that we were able to continue to meet and sit down and talk…I don’t think the same can be said of Gachagua’s principal.”

She added: “Entertaining disagreement outside government and publicly is disruptive, no wonder the government in which Gachagua’s principal serves is unable to fight corruption because it is pulling in two different directions. That is why we have a paralysis today.”