In her memoir Against the Tide, Martha Karua, the leader of NARC-Kenya, looks back on the events of December 2007 when President Mwai Kibaki was quickly sworn into office after a disputed election.
Karua, who was a strong supporter of Kibaki, recalls how the situation was tense, with accusations of election rigging sparking protests across the country.
Despite the chaos, Karua stands by her decision to support the immediate swearing-in of Kibaki, which she believes was necessary to maintain stability.
At the time, the country was in a crisis, and Karua explains that the swearing-in had to happen quickly to prevent further unrest.
She defends the action, pointing out that the Inter-Parties Parliamentary Group (IPPG) amendment allowed for the President to be sworn in immediately after being declared the winner.
According to Karua, the constitution at that moment required the swift inauguration of the President to ensure the country did not plunge into further uncertainty.
Looking back, Karua says she has no regrets about the role she played during that time.
She explains that her loyalty to Kibaki, whom she had voted for, motivated her actions.
"I did what was right by me," Karua states, emphasizing that she would have made the same choice again if given the chance.
She believes that, at the time, supporting Kibaki's swearing-in was the right thing to do for the country.
However, Karua acknowledges the painful aftermath of the election, which saw widespread violence, killings, and displacement of thousands of Kenyans.
She expresses deep regret over the loss of lives and the destruction that followed, noting that the country’s leaders failed to prevent such violence.
"We regret our failure as leaders, which could have led the country into the abyss," Karua reflects.
In her memoir, Karua also opens up about the challenges Kibaki faced in his administration, including the corruption cartels that hindered his government’s progress.
She notes that tensions within the government, especially during the run-up to the 2010 referendum, made it difficult to address these issues effectively.
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