Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua has forcefully defended her actions during the tumultuous 2007 post-election period, rejecting claims that she played a role in the violence that erupted across Kenya.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, on August 6, 2024, Karua responded to accusations of hypocrisy from a netizen.
S. Kowino Jr. (@KowinoJr), reacting to an X Spaces conversation on the forthcoming anti-government demonstrations dubbed ‘Nane nane march,’ criticized Karua for calling on President William Ruto to step down, claiming she failed to deliver the same message to the late President Mwai Kibaki during the 2007/2008 post-election violence when she was Justice Minister.
“Karua who advised Kibaki to stick to power in the 2007/08 PEV as Kenyans’ innocent blood was being shed is here asking Ruto to leave the same power she wasn’t ready to let go and wouldn’t have let go if she was the president right now. Hypocrisy at its best. The people shall win✊🏽,” Kowino wrote.
Karua addressed the critic, questioning the assumption that she influenced then-President Kibaki’s decisions during the crisis.
“You assume Kibaki had no mind of his own?” Karua posed rhetorically.
2007 post-election violence
Karua’s comments come at a time when Kenya continues to grapple with the legacy of the 2007-2008 post-election violence.
Efforts to hold those responsible accountable have had mixed results, with many victims still seeking justice.
The 2007 election crisis began after the December 27 vote, when Kibaki was declared the winner amidst accusations of electoral fraud.
The ensuing violence exposed deep-seated ethnic divisions and tested Kenya’s democratic institutions.
Karua, known for her fierce loyalty to Kibaki, played a prominent role in defending the government’s position during the crisis.
Her actions and statements from that period have become focal points in the debate over the responsibilities of political leaders during the violence.
Karua, who served as Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister in Kibaki’s administration, has often been scrutinized for her staunch defence of the disputed election results that triggered widespread unrest and violence.
The 2007 election, which pitted incumbent President Kibaki against opposition leader Raila Odinga, led to one of the darkest periods in Kenya’s history, with over 1,000 people killed and hundreds of thousands displaced.
As Kenya looks ahead to future elections, the lessons from the 2007 crisis continue to shape political discourse and efforts to prevent a repeat of such violence.
Karua’s defence of her actions underscores the complexities of political leadership during times of crisis and the challenges of reconciling differing narratives of historical events.
The events of the 2007 post-election violence have tainted Karua’s image, complicating her current struggle for freer democratic space and government accountability amid accusations of hypocrisy.
The political landscape in Kenya has evolved since then, but the shadows of 2007 linger.
Currently, Karua is a strong opponent of Ruto’s government. Her party, Narc Kenya, even opted to leave the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition following Raila Odinga’s dalliance with Ruto.