NAIROBI, Kenya – People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua has hinted that she may not be on the ballot in the 2027 presidential election, emphasizing that removing President William Ruto from power will require a united opposition rather than individual political ambitions.
Speaking during the official launch of PLP on Thursday, February 27, Karua underscored the importance of coalition-building, stating that unseating the Kenya Kwanza administration cannot be the work of a single politician or party.
“You may wonder how we are going to do it. I have expressed my wish to run for president, as have my twin brother Kalonzo Musyoka, Morara Kebaso, and many others,” Karua said. “But this is not about personal ambitions. Kenya comes first.”
While reaffirming her own political aspirations, the former Azimio la Umoja deputy presidential candidate clarified that she is open to backing another opposition candidate if that serves the broader goal of political change.
“I may have said that I don’t want to be a deputy, but that doesn’t mean I won’t support another candidate. I don’t have to be on that ticket, but I will commit 100 percent to delivering victory to Kenyans,” she asserted.
Karua called for a transparent process to select a single opposition candidate, insisting that all contenders should be willing to rally behind whoever emerges as the strongest contender.
“Whoever gets selected as a candidate through a transparent method that we will devise, we will all queue behind that person,” she said.
Her remarks come at a time when the opposition landscape remains fluid, with various leaders expressing interest in challenging President Ruto in 2027.
Kalonzo Musyoka, leader of the Wiper Party, has been positioning himself as the opposition’s flagbearer, while Raila Odinga, Karua’s 2022 running mate, has yet to declare his political plans.
Karua also reiterated her openness to working with other political leaders, including Raila Odinga, but made it clear that she would not play second fiddle to him again.
“Am I ready to work with Raila Odinga again? Yes, but not backing him—perhaps him backing me,” she stated in an earlier interview with Citizen TV.
However, she was quick to note that her willingness to form alliances is not limited to Odinga, emphasizing that any coalition must prioritize Kenya’s interests over personal political ambitions.
“We want to redeem this country and transform it to serve Kenyans, not just a few,” she declared.
