People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua has called on opposition leaders to remain united ahead of the 2027 General Election, saying their mission is to rescue the country and that the coalition’s presidential flag bearer will be chosen based on the will of Kenyans rather than individual ambitions.

Speaking at a church service in Apondo SDA in Ahero on July 4, 2026

, Karua said opposition leaders had agreed to put the country’s interests ahead of personal political interests, maintaining that unity was the only way to deliver change.

“It is a necessity. We must unite so that we can be united. We cannot be united when we are divided,” she said, adding that the unity drive should also embrace leaders who are not currently part of the coalition.

Karua, who has declared her presidential bid, said her candidature should not be viewed as a personal project but as part of a broader liberation movement.

She said she would support whoever is eventually picked as the coalition’s flag bearer, even if it is not her, and expected the same commitment from her colleagues.

“This time round, it will not be about the individual. It is about Kenya and the needs of Kenya,” she said, adding that the coalition would not be driven by ethnicity but by principles and the ability to deliver for Kenyans.

She said the opposition would involve Kenyans in selecting its presidential candidate, insisting that leadership decisions would not be made behind closed doors.

“When we sit at the table, it will not be about tribe. It will be about the person many Kenyans believe will deliver. Kenyans will be consulted and will have a say,” she said.

Karua accused the government of dividing the country along ethnic lines and urged Kenyans, particularly Gen Z, to reject tribal politics and unite in demanding accountable leadership.

She also condemned the use of youths in political violence, saying young people should reject goonism and refuse to be used by politicians for financial gain.

“We do not want goonism. Goons are our children. Let us talk to our children to shun bad politics,” she said.

The PLP leader strongly condemned the fatal shooting of a young man linked to the vehicle of Principal Secretary Fikirini Jacobs, questioning why the victim was not arrested and taken to a police station if he had committed an offence instead of being shot and his body allegedly dumped by the roadside.

She called on the Principal Secretary to step aside to pave the way for independent investigations, warning young people against allowing themselves to be exploited by politicians.

“They will use you for small money and leave you dead. They are not concerned about your life,” she said.

Karua warns against force

Karua further called for a national conference bringing together the church, security agencies and other stakeholders to address the country’s political and security challenges, saying Kenya could not afford to continue on its current path.

Drawing lessons from Sudan and Egypt, she warned leaders against relying on force to remain in power, arguing that history has shown that governments sustained through the gun eventually fall.

She urged President William Ruto to listen to Kenyans instead of depending on security agencies to silence dissent.

Karua said she was speaking out because Kenya’s future was more important than personal political positions, noting that she had survived outside government for the last 14 years.

“Personally, I can live without being in power. I have been out of the government for 14 years and I have survived. But you need a country in which to survive. Kenyans deserved better education, healthcare, housing, jobs and protection of their constitutional rights,” she said.

She said she had a proven record in public service, citing her tenure as Water Minister where she spearheaded irrigation projects, including those in Nyando and Mwea, and initiated the construction of dykes to address flooding.

She regretted that the projects were not fully implemented after she left office, arguing that the perennial floods in Nyando could be solved if leaders prioritised the needs of citizens over personal interests.

Karua also defended her record as Justice Minister, saying she fought corruption and played a key role in delivering the 2010 Constitution after constitutional reforms had stalled for nearly two decades.

“When I start to do something, I do it up to the end. I have been tried and tested,” she said.

She criticised what she termed politics of handouts, warning Kenyans against electing leaders based on money distributed during campaigns. Instead, she urged voters to support leaders who deliver quality public services.

“It is better for the government not to give you money but to provide quality education, medicine in hospitals and good services,” she said.

Karua cited former President Mwai Kibaki’s administration as an example of development-oriented leadership, saying it prioritised free primary education and service delivery instead of distributing money to politicians.