People’s Liberation Party (PLP) Party Leader Martha Karua speaking during Citizen TV’s JKLive Show on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. PHOTO|COURTESY
According to Karua, killing the opposition in Kenyan politics will defy provisions under Article 4(2) of the Constitution. The provision declares Kenya a sovereign Republic and a multi-party democratic state, founded on the national values and principles of governance outlined in Article 10.
This, Karua added, is what she would have vouched for if she were given a chance to address mourners during the burial of the late ex-Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
"I would have said that we fought for multi-party democracy, and I will remain in the opposition as the opposition will remain because it is sanctioned by the constitution, and therefore, the move to bring political parties under one roof is unconstitutional. We must have the opposition," she told Spice FM on Tuesday.
The PLP boss further noted that eroding multi-partism will also dishonour Odinga's fight for democracy, which entrenched the principle in law.
"The greatest honour to Raila is to follow his ideals. To uphold multi-partism and also uphold the rights of the people and the regime must stop those violations," Karua added.
This comes amid jitters that the ruling administration might absorb the Raila-founded Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). Political players have hinted at joining the ruling regime and endorsing President William Ruto for a second stab at the presidency in 2027.
Multi-partism was introduced in Kenya before independence, but it was soon abandoned during the one-party era between 1964 to 1991 under the Kenya African National Union (KANU). The Opposition Party Kenya People's Union (KPU), led by Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, was formed in 1966 but was eventually banned after the ruling government frustrated its formation.
The state employed tactics like pressuring local employers into dismissing any staff who supported the KPU, and some party leaders were detained. In 1991, however, the fight for political liberalization led to the repeal of constitutional provisions enforcing a one-party state, leading to the first multi-party election in 1992. Kenya has remained a multi-party state since then, and the 2010 Constitution further recognised multi-partism.
