Narc-Kenya Party Leader and former Justice Minister Martha Karua has reignited debates surrounding Kenya’s controversial 2007 General Election, asserting that the late President Mwai Kibaki was the legitimate winner. Speaking during a live interview on Citizen TV’s #CitizenSundayLive with Jeff Koinange and Olive Burrows, Karua maintained that despite widespread electoral irregularities, the results announced by Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) Chair Samuel Kivuitu indicated Kibaki as the victor.
“What Kriegler said is that both sides were guilty of inflating the votes, so it wouldn’t make sense to even try to find out who won. Meaning that the electoral rules had been violated in such a big way. From the votes Kivuitu announced, Kibaki won,” Karua stated.
Her comments highlight her consistent stance on the events of 2007, a period marked by political tension, disputed results, and post-election violence that left over 1,000 people dead and displaced thousands more. The 2008 Kriegler Commission, tasked with investigating the election, concluded that it was impossible to determine a clear winner due to irregularities and vote-rigging on both sides.
Karua, who played a central role in Kibaki’s re-election campaign, acknowledged the election’s flaws but upheld the legitimacy of the outcome declared by the ECK. Her remarks have sparked fresh debates online, with many revisiting the deeply divisive period in Kenya’s political history. Critics argue that her stance undermines the broader issues highlighted by Kriegler, while supporters see it as a defense of her legacy and Kibaki’s presidency.
Karua’s statement comes as Kenya continues to reflect on the need for electoral reforms and the importance of fostering trust in democratic processes.
