Narc Kenya Party Leader Martha Karua has been at the centre of debate relating to the position of a running mate for either of the two leading presidential candidates in the August 2022 elections.
Leaders and ordinary Kenyans have debated and expressed support for the former cabinet minister and pro-democracy activist to be a running mate for either Raila Odinga or William Ruto.
Our focus though is how the Kenyan media has reported the issue. By estimate, half of the stories have created an impression that Martha Karua has refused to be a running mate for either candidate and that her only interest is to contest the governorship of Kirinyaga County.
This is not true. In many interviews where the politician has been asked this question, she has categorically stated clearly that she has not been approached by any of the presidential candidates to be the running mate.
There is no interview Karua said she will not be a running mate for a presidential candidate.
During the most recent interview on the issue with Capital FM News, she said; “I want to appreciate all those who have confidence in me and to also remind us all that the seat of Deputy President is not the one that you can declare your candidature, it depends on the candidate and it is the last card played very close to the election.”
“Nobody has courted me; those are rumours and I can only answer that when a specific proposal is put to me. I do not want to answer to speculations,” she said.
What this last statement means is that Karua is ready to consider a proposal to be a running mate for a presidential candidate.