Martha Karua Responds to Kalonzo Recognizing Ruto as President

On Saturday, Azimio Principal Martha Karua denied media reports that suggested the coalition had acknowledged President William Ruto as Kenya's legitimately elected Head of State.

Earlier reports had indicated that Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka had stated at a burial ceremony in Taita Taveta County that Azimio had changed its tune after initially maintaining that the 2022 presidential election was rigged. In a statement, Karua refuted the claim. While she did not issue an explanation, it is uncertain whether she disagrees with Kalonzo's stance or believes that the media had misquoted him.

According to the media report, Kalonzo expressed his admiration for the calm and composed approach taken by the Head of State during the negotiations seeking to resolve the ongoing political deadlock in the country. Kalonzo, who co-chairs the National Dialogue Committee with National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungw'ah, commended Ruto for displaying statesmanship in the bipartisan discussions. However, he criticized Ruto's deputy Rigathi Gachagua for not following suit.

Despite his initial reluctance, Gachagua eventually gave in to discuss the opposition's complaints with Raila Odinga's coalition. The committee intends to engage in deliberations regarding electoral justice, which encompasses examining the 2022 electoral outcomes and restructuring the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission(IEBC). They also aim to talk about boundary delimitation in relation to electoral representation.

In January, Odinga voiced his denial of Ruto's presidency which was later agreed upon by the coalition. In April, Gachagua informed Odinga that the government would only consider opposition grievances if he publicly recognized Ruto as President.