Martha Karua addressing residents of Malava Constituency when she toured the area to popularize her Narc Kenay Party and introduce to the people party aspiring candidates. She urged residents to audit all aspiring leaders. [PHOTO | John Kabaka]

Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua says Prime Minister Raila Odinga was incapable of breathing fresh blood of reforms and change into government systems should he be elected president.

In a loaded statement, Karua said those serving in government today are guilty of the rampant corruption and misuse of public resources that has pushed the country to the brink and should not lie again that they will bring change when elected tomorrow, a remark directed at the PM who is a co-principal in the coalition government.

Orange Democratic Movement ODM) party and Raila claim that the presidential contest will be a two-horse race pitting reformers and anti-reformers. However, Karua has asked voters to carry out a thorough audit of leaders seeking political office in the coming election to avoid the risk of electing the corrupt and tribal chieftains to manage public affairs.

At the same time Karua declared she will not negotiate or compromise her resolve to run for presidency in the polls. In apparent reference to calls by a section of leaders from the Mt. Kenya region that all presidential candidates from the region back one of them, Karua said she had no time for tribal political formations.

She said her dream was to become a Kenyan leader and not a tribal chieftain adding she would seek the support of Kenyans across the country. Addressing campaign rallies in Ingotse and Navakholo Markets in Lurambi and Samitsi and Malava trading centres in Malava constituency, Karua faulted a sections of reformers of being behind the social and economic meyhem in the country.

“As voters you must not be confused... ensure you scrutinize these people because some are wolves in sheep-skin. If you have incited your tribe against others in the past, how do you convince us that now you will unite them when you area the president.”

Karua was on a campaign trail in Kakamega County to popularise her presidential bid in the area as well as to introduce party aspiring candidates Emmy Siganga (Lurambi), Enock Makanga (Malava) and Faith Maumoh (Senator-Busia).

She was accompanied by East African Legislative Assembly representative Augustine Lotodo and the Kakamega county Narc-K chairman Mohammed Kulova. Karua said Kenyans were facing economic hardships because the leadership of the country had shifted the goals.

She observed, “When President Kibaki came to power, he phased out fee payment in primary schools, but now this has been re-introduced against the law and nobody in government has an explanation. This is because those responsible are also engaged in corruption.”

Kenyans, she said should be wary of advocates of reforms, noting most them lack the character and demeanor to push the country's reform agenda but were merely hiding in the reform train to win over public sympathy so they could be elected to public office.

Karua asked Kenyans not to retreat to their tribal cocoons but use their democratic right to elect leaders of integrity and champions of democracy.

 “This is a time when people will come up with tribal parties and candidates and seduce you to vote for them but remember this tribal card is played only in political contest and not when there is hunger and starvation.”