Martha Karua Criticizes Nadco Azimio Talks, Claims Coalition Left Empty-Handed

Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua has stated that the Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition emerged empty-handed from negotiations with the Kenya Kwanza Alliance (KKA).

In an interview on Citizen TV on Thursday night, Karua claimed that members of the Azimio in the National Dialogue Committee (Nadco) assisted the KKA in advancing their agenda.

“In my view, those talks bore no fruit because there was no consensus on our three main agendas: the cost of living, electoral justice, and respect for multiparty democracy,” said Karua.

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She added, “An agreement was reached on Kenya Kwanza’s agendas, such as the creation of the official opposition leader’s office and the legalization of the Chief Ministership, which Ruto had already presented to parliament.”

Karua, the leader of Narc Kenya, explained that the eight-month sessions of the Nadco committee were a waste of Kenyans’ money and time because the government did not have good intentions when engaging in talks with the opposition.

“The talks aimed to play us and calm down protests. The results of our talks with the KKA government have borne no fruit because Kenyans are still suffering from the rising cost of living. In my view, the Nadco report means nothing to Kenyans because it does not address their hardships,” added Karua, who was Raila Odinga’s running mate in the August 9, 2022, presidential election.

She directed blame at the Kenya Kwanza government for failing to achieve the goals of her negotiations with the opposition.

“Despite us as the opposition and citizens continuing to pressure this government to reduce the cost of living, they ignored us and instead continued to raise the prices of essential goods and introduce new taxes,” she said.

According to Karua, for any talks to succeed, the ruling party or alliance must show goodwill because they are the ones obligated to fulfill the wishes of the citizens.

The leader of Narc-Kenya described the current government as one that disrespects the law and the decisions of the court.

“This administration conducts government affairs in a manner that disrespects the law and undermines the views of the citizens, as it did during the public opinion collection on the Finance Act,” she said.

“When you disregard the Constitution and the people who gave you authority and the will of the majority, you become a bad government,” she explained when asked about her reference to the government in that manner.