Presidential in Kenya: Raila Odinga chooses Martha Karua to be his running mate
Veteran Kenyan politician Raila Odinga announced on Monday May 16, 2022 that he has chosen former justice minister Martha Karua, nicknamed the "iron lady", to be his running mate in the August 9 presidential election.
AFP - TONY KARUMBA
Text by: RFI Follow
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In Kenya, Raila Odinga revealed, on the morning of this Monday, May 16, the name of his running mate for the presidential election.
It is lawyer and former MP Martha Karua.
She will therefore be called upon to become vice-president of the country, in the event of victory next August.
The day before, Sunday, William Ruto, Raila Odinga's main opponent, also put an end to the suspense, appointing MP Rigathi Gachagua as his running mate.
In Kenya, the choice of running mate plays a key role in the outcome of the election.
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It is therefore no surprise that the two main presidential candidates have appointed personalities from Mount Kenya to be their running mate, because this region is the main reservoir of votes in the country.
It has produced three of Kenya's four presidents since independence.
For the first time, Mount Kenya has no candidates this year.
Martha Karua thus becomes the first woman in Kenya to be in a position to become vice-president, in the event of victory.
After 60 years of independence, "
the
male domination of the executive line becomes inexcusable
", declared Raila Odinga, when revealing his choice.
Martha Karua is 65, commonly referred to as the Iron Lady, she served as a High Court magistrate in Kenya as well as Minister of Justice under the recently deceased former President Mwai Kibaki until her resignation in 2009 .
Read also: Kenya: Raila Odinga nominated presidential candidate with the support of Kenyatta
a, the running mate designated, Sunday, May 15, by William Ruto, began as personal assistant to current President Uhuru Kenyatta, between 2001 and 2006, before becoming one of his fiercest detractors.
Ironically, it was Uhuru Kenyatta who initially introduced him to William Ruto.
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