DID MARTHA KARUA CALL KIBAKI’S BLUFF OR DID SHE THROW IN THE TOWEL?

By Jerry Okungu
Berbera, Somaliland
April 8, 2009

Let nobody fool Kenyans. Martha Karua’s resignation is a bombshell in more ways than one. It shocked and weakened the PNU beyond what many political players may want to admit. If anything, it has left a big hole in both the PNU and the Coalition government.

To begin with, Karua was the only politician with a spine in the PNU conglomeration when it became apparent that elections had been rigged in its favor. She was the only one that stood firm, remained focused and maintained her coherence when many in her faction were either lost for words or took cover when things became thick in the aftermath of the elections.

Let us face it; among the PNU ministers that may think of celebrating her departure; it may be too premature to pop up any bottle of champagne. The bad girl from Gichugu is not easily replaceable. She is the type of person a politician had better not cross swords with. Better still, she is the kind of fighter a wise leader had better have on his side because she is a good and disciplined soldier.

Another thing, Karua does not fight only for the right causes; she fights for the wrong causes too as long as she is convinced the cause is worth it and will give her the much needed satisfaction.

This resignation has ushered Martha Karua into a rare Kenyan Hall of Fame. Very few cabinet ministers have done what she did early in the week. She resigned on conviction and principle not because she saw an opportunity to capitalize on. She resigned because President Kibaki had slighted her by siding with individuals she was supposed to supervise. She resigned because individuals went behind her back to betray her with the President. When this happened, her conscience told her that there was no need to continue dining and wining with the same traitors.

Throughout Kenya’s independence history, only five cabinet ministers have resigned on principle. First to do so was Jaramogi Oginga Odinga in 1966 when some traitors in KANU conspired behind his back at the Limuru Conference Centre to whittle his position in KANU. Instead of remaining the sole party Vice president the schemers created eight VP positions; one for every province.

When Jaramogi resigned to form the first opposition party in post-independence Kenya, Ramogi Achieng Oneko, Kenyatta’s cellmate at Kapenguria could not live with that betrayal. He too tendered his resignation to Kenyatta and joined Jaramogi on the back benches.

The man who took over as Kenyatta’s Vice President was one Joseph Murumbi who until then had served Kenyatta as Foreign Minister. He too resigned his position in the Kenyatta government just seven months later, citing ill- health. The truth was; he could not live with the underhand dealings that were going on in the Kenyatta regime. His conscience could not allow him to continue with business as usual.
The fourth minister to resign his position was Kenneth Matiba in 1988 during Daniel arap Moi’s reign.

He was tired of the machinations, intrigues and backstabbing, mostly choreographed by Moi to eliminate perceived potential political threats. He, like Joseph Murumbi, exchanged his flag for personal freedom.

Now, we have Martha Karua resigning from the Kibaki regime for more or less the same reasons and almost in similar circumstances. She becomes the fifth cabinet minister to resign on principle and nothing else. In her own words, she had to stop being other people’s slave; to carry their load in bad times and to be denied honor at the table in good times.

This is not to say that some cabinet ministers have not resigned in recent years after disagreeing with the Executive. To resign out of a dispute is different from resigning on matters of principle.

In 2002, Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and George Saitoti resigned from Moi’s government because Moi had chosen Uhuru as his heir without being subjected to a National Delegates nomination. Had Moi allowed such a process, the three ministers would have not relinquished their positions. More importantly they saw their resignations as a way of galvanizing public sympathy in order to beat KANU at the polls.

The only time Raila Odinga resigned on principle was way back in 1996 when he fell out with Ford Kenya leadership following his father’s demise. He resigned his parliamentary seat, resigned from the party and went back to seek fresh mandate from the people of Langata constituency under the National Democratic Party (NDP). He recaptured the seat in that by-election.

Now that Karua has resigned from the Justice Ministry; one thing is for sure; reforms including the new constitution must be considered dead and forgotten until after the 2012 elections. Round two of the merry-go-round with the new constitution has started in earnest. Gove save Kenya!

jerryokungu@gmail.com