Uhuru Endorses Martha Karua as Kenya's Next Deputy President

President Kenyatta has congratulated Nark-Kenya party leader Martha Karua following her nomination as the running mate of Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga.

Speaking during the 59th Madaraka Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens on Wednesday, Kenyatta indirectly threw his weight behind Karua, saying Kenyans have an opportunity to elect Kenya’s first female deputy president in the August 9th elections.

“If our women were part of the liberation struggle, advancing their course intentionally is a duty we owe them and ourselves as a country. And I am, indeed, proud to have been part of this push for women leadership in our Republic,” said Uhuru.

“In August this year, if it is the wish of the electorate, we have a chance of a woman shattering the glass ceiling by assuming the second-highest office in our Republic, the Office of the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya.”

Noting that women should be given equal opportunities like men, Uhuru credited himself for appointing women to key leadership positions during his 10-year tenure, including 11 female Cabinet Secretaries.

 “I have had the pleasure of working with 11 women in my cabinet at different times and in different capacities; all of them have placed our county at a good place globally,” he added.

Uhuru also pointed out that he appointed the first woman Major General Fatuma Ahmed to the Kenya Defense Force (KDF) in 2018, Nancy Gathungu as Kenya's first female Auditor General in 2021, and Martha Koome as the first female Chief Justice in the country’s history.

"…After 58 years of our independence in May of 2021, I had the profound honor of being the first President of the republic to commence an address with the salutation 'madam Chief Justice' when the honorable Lady Justice Martha Koome assumed office as the first woman Chief Justice. We are also proud of the fact that Kenya's judiciary boasts of a female deputy Chief Justice, a female Chief Registrar and many female principal judges and presiding judges across our superior courts," he said.