POLITICS

NARC-Kenya leader Martha Karua has taken a swipe at former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for allegedly betraying her following his controversial decision to side with President William Ruto’s administration. During an interview on NTV, the former Azimio principal accused Odinga of hijacking the Gen Z protests to advance his political agenda. Karua noted that Raila was expected to side with the youthful protesters but instead chose to support the government. “When we become opposition leaders, we owe a certain duty to Kenyans, whether or not, we are in the Gen Z moments, the Gen Zs who did the work and died for this country.As leaders, we must protect and stand with the people. So it’s not only the Gen Zs I also personally felt betrayed,” the NARC-Kenya party leader noted. According to Karua, some of the opposition leaders within the Azimio coalition had become the mouthpiece of Ruto’s government. Karua went on to hit out at Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohamed and Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho for siding with the government despite previously being in opposition. “That is why there is no way we can be in a coalition that no longer serves the purpose of the people. We need to defend the people, we need to call the Ruto regime to account and you cannot do that with one leg in and another one out,” Karua stated. She moreover advised Raila to consider formalising his agreement with President Ruto. “I call upon my friend and brother Raila Odinga to do the honourable thing, have a post-election coalition agreement with Ruto so that they are in government through a proper political marriage solemnised by the registrar of political parties,” Karua suggested.