Martha Karua, Kalonzo Clash Over Her Mt Kenya 'Kamwene' Meetings

NARC-Kenya party leader Martha Karua on Wednesday, January 10 lashed back at Wiper Party Leader, Kalonzo Musyoka who dismissed the Kamwene meetings organised by leaders of the Mt Kenya region within the Azimio la Umoja coalition.

In a statement, Karua, who is an Azimio principal, questioned Kalonzo's obsession with the Kamwene caucus to the point of dragging it into every single conversation.

Furthermore, she believed that her co-principal was terrified of Kamwene's activities which were established in October 2023.

"What about Kamwene scares my brother Kalonzo Musyoka that he must drag it in every conversation he has?" Karua posed.

NARC-Kenya party leader, Martha Karua speaking to the media on September 19, 2023, at Jubilee Party Headquarters. /X

Kalonzo on Tuesday, January 9 claimed that the forum diverts Azimio's intention for the Mt Kenya region and breeds individualism which could likely put the coalition at risk of division based on tribal lines.

He urged Azimio's founders to stick with the coalition, terming the caucus as 'dead on arrival'. 

"I don't want to pass judgment on that issue, but have you heard of things like dead on arrival? Because this thing means individualism. It is a terrible political philosophy. I'd advise my friends to leave it, and we stick together in Azimio," he stated while appearing on KTN News. 

Dubbed Kamwene Leadership Forum, the new outfit is meant to champion the interests of the Mt Kenya region, coming considerably after Azimio had failed to name a member from the vote-rich region to the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) charged with spearheading bipartisan talks between the opposition and the government.

The forum held a press briefing on September 19, 2023, addressing issues that had been covered by Azimio less than 72 hours prior, a move that raised questions regarding whether there could be cracks within the Raila Odinga-led opposition over the talks.

However, Karua was quick to dismiss rumours of a breakup in the coalition, noting that Kamwene was only a space through which Mt Kenya leaders speak.

“It does not mean we are not in Azimio, if we weren’t we would say it without beating around the bush. You saw us speak as Azimio, today we are here speaking as Kamwene, tomorrow I will speak as Narc-Kenya, all these are spaces we occupy,” she affirmed.

However, a section of Azimio allies including its spokesperson Makau Mutua, alleged that Karua was threatening to leave the coalition in favour of Kamwene. Karua and Jubilee Party Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni are among its founding members.

"I am an unflinching member of Kamwene, NARC-Kenya, and Azimio Kenya all without contradiction,’’ stated Karua on X (formerly Twitter) on September 24, 2023.

Mutua, who served as the Azimio presidential secretariat, claimed that Karua and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula had started aligning with their ethnic outfits at the expense of the Azimio coalition and the Kenya Kwanza government.