FRUSTRATED MARTHA KARUA COULD QUIT KIBAKI CABINET TODAY

THE STANDARD
NAIROBI, KENYA
April 6, 2009
By Standard Team

Justice Minister Martha Karua is widely expected to resign today over the handling of reforms and the manner of appointment of judges by President Kibaki.

The minister believes that her docket has been countermanded by the President, as she was shunted aside before new judges were picked and sworn-in at a ceremony at State House, Nairobi.

"What does one expect when one’s mandate is recalled? I will take the next step as I cannot be just a spokesperson of Justice," she told The Standard last night.

Karua said she expected that after questions were raised over the Judiciary, as the minister in charge she would have been consulted.

Justice minister Martha Karua at ACK St Stephen’s Church, Nairobi, on Sunday. With her is former Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara. [PHOTO: COLLINS KWEYU /STANDARD]

"The President has the overall responsibility, but where there has been dissatisfaction as indeed was the case over the Judiciary, one would expect that we would sit down and discuss, even if it meant that one of the differing views would ultimately prevail.

"But when action is taken without this, it means my view counts for nothing," the minister said.

She said in Agenda 4 of the Kofi Annan talks, Judicial reforms was a key item, and she has been working on this within the context of fighting anti-reform forces in Government.

She re-assured Kenyans that she was steadfast in her crusade for reforms. She pointed out that most reforms had been achieved outside the Cabinet, citing the Inter-Parties Parliamentary Group changes and numerous others pushed by the civil society.

Karua accused the political class of ignoring the ordinary Kenyans. She cited Agenda 4, whose issues touched on ordinary Kenyans but have not been resolved.

Earlier, at a service at St Stephen’s ACK Church on Jogoo Road, Nairobi, Karua brushed aside a call from former Makadara MP and ODM stalwart, Reuben Ndolo, to stay on.

The minister expressed displeasure with recent appointment of seven judges, saying the Government could not preach reforms and yet act to the contrary. Karua is on record calling for radical reforms in the Judiciary and dismissing the 2003 "surgery" as a sham.

And yesterday, she said: "Let nobody be sacked from a parastatal and then appointed as a judge. We must be seen to be reformers."

Ndolo had earlier urged the minister thus: "Fight on, we are with you. Don’t relent. Fight them [sic] at whatever cost but don’t leave the Government because Kenyans need you and if you leave the Government, things won’t go well."

But Karua outlined her achievements as a Backbencher, notably the push for the Inter-Party Parliamentary Group reforms that saw proportional representation of political parties in the now defunct Electoral Commission of Kenya, adding she could still serve Kenyans without necessarily being a minister.

"I have done a lot as a Backbencher, including taking part in the 1997 IPPG reforms. Siwezi sema kuacha kiti ni kuacha wakenya (I would not have deserted Kenyans by leaving that seat)," Karua said.

Though she later clarified that her party was not seeking any alliance, Karua — who attended the service with her parents — said Narc-Kenya was ready to work with the reform-minded parties to bring about change.

"My party is not looking for an alliance at this time but we’ll ensure we work with people of all kinds to change this country. I cannot be shaken by adversaries but principles can at times decide where I may go," said the minister.

displeasure with parliament

Signaling her impending move, Karua expressed displeasure with Parliament over the way it treated the maize and oil scams, in addition to its failure to enact a law for the establishment of a local tribunal to try post-poll violence perpetrators.

Karua said: "It is the politicians who incited Kenyans to violence but did not fight and kill each other. There was no violence in Buru Buru or Kileleshwa," said Karua.

On the Kilaguni talks, the minister said she was not in the committee picked to manage the coalition affairs: "My name was floated but I did not take up the seat... I can not comment on the talks."

Assistant Minister Elizabeth Ongoro, former Kasarani MP William Omondi, Dagoretti ODM activist John Kiarie and party supporters Peter Kaimenyi and Maurice Ochieng also attended the service. ODM Nominated MP Musa Sirma, Makadara Narc-Kenya chairperson Chege Waithera and politician Dr Josephine Ojiambo were also present at the function.