MARTHA WANGARI KARUA; THE IRON LADY

 

THE IRON LADY

When I sat down to write this piece, I was of a sober mind, on what I felt I needed to mediate about this great Kenyan personality, who we all know and admire in equal measure, for this is a make or break moment for me. Therefore stay attuned, as I channel the life and times of one honourable Martha Karua, EGH, SC on this segment of black history month. The honourable Martha Karua reminds me of the late Margaret Thatcher, who was once the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, deemed to be bold, fierce, tough as nails and strong as iron. When it comes to being fearless and unapologetic, this lady is solid gold, as Martha is not the type to mince her words nor is she known to be a people pleaser. What you see is what you get, with Martha, so you best take it or leave it, is the energy that Martha emits.

Martha is also a force to reckon with. She is a long established member of parliament for Gichugu Constituency, an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, was once the Minister for Justice, and up until recently, she was named as a running mate of the 2022 presidential candidate, making her the first woman in Kenyan history to run for a political ticket of a major political party. This meant that a win for Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition Party in August 2022, would have made her the first Kenyan woman Deputy President, and the highest ranking woman in the history of Kenya.

This iron lady is out here, big pimping in these politcal streets, moulding history left, right, and centre, making us to feel somewhat jaded from all her achievements and breaking records that we cannot compete with nor compare to. Well, you could argue and say that almost does not count, if there is no actual win but when historians gather to write on the life and times of Martha Karua, they will not skip on the fact that she is a star, on the count of her service to the people of the republic of Kenya.

Moreover, Martha is alpha-charged, not afraid to get in the mud, not afraid to take the bull by the horns, and not afraid to fight for what she believes. You can say what you want about Martha but trust her not to care about your distorted opinions of her, for she is who she is and that is that. Furthermore, Martha is aware of her self-worth. She understands that it takes more than pretty face and a coca cola bottle shape to slay the beast. She is well aware that wits and smarts get one further down the path to success, something that she values within herself. But perhaps what Martha values the most is her faith in God, to carry her to rich fulfilment.

This kind of a strong-willed mentality in a woman intimidates even the strongest of men, for they misconstrue her strength to be a act of defiance or rebellion against the already prejudice patriarchal society. On the contrary, Martha is submissive to her God, respectful to the men that raised her, and equally as dutiful to her peers, of whom she merits and admires. Nevertheless, she refuses to be accommodating to anything or anyone who does not impact her life for the better, and that is just sheer common sense. Therefore, you that is in habit of disliking and disregarding strong-minded individuals, should not be overly judgemental of folks, especially those that exude confidence, which you always mistakenly gauge as arrogance. Instead, go within and engage yourself in some shadow work, in order to find the same confidence within, that will drive you to be your very best.

Anyway, Martha has consistently fought for the protection women’s rights and improvements to the democratic process. Moreover, she has been an activist for the widening of democratic space and gender issues in Kenya. Martha has also been involved in championing women’s rights through public interest, litigation, lobbying and advocacy for laws that enhance and protect the rights of women, through her work with the various organizations that champion the rights of women, such as the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Kenya), and the League of Kenya Women Voters, among others.

In conclusion, Martha Karua is a born and bred Kenyan made lawyer, politician, and an advocate for human rights. She has proven herself to be a contender in matters of service to the people of Kenya, showcasing her leadership skills and abilities in an effort to build an equal and corruption free nation, based on the Nyayo philosophy of peace, love, and unity.

Here is to you, Honourable Martha Wangari Karua; as iron sharpens iron, as deep calls to deep, and as soul vibes with soul, so let your life be at one with our lives, your dream be in sync with our dreams, and your legacy be our legacy.