People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua has called for a major political shift, telling supporters in Karatina that Kenya must reject both the current President William Ruto’s administration and any attempt to replace it with leaders who represent the same failures.

Speaking during a rally on Saturday, April 25, 2026, Karua thanked residents for turning up in large numbers and said the country now needs leaders who serve citizens instead of protecting political interests.

“Karatina, asanteni sana,” she said in a message shared after the meeting.

“We must remove this regime and refuse to replace it with the same failure wearing a different face,” she insisted.

Her remarks come as opposition leaders step up mobilisation efforts across the country ahead of the 2027 General Election. Political camps have increased public rallies in recent weeks as the contest for support begins to gather pace.

Karua used the Karatina event to position herself as a reform-minded leader, saying Kenya cannot move forward if voters simply exchange one set of failed leaders for another.

“A new Kenya demands service-led leaders,” she said.

The former justice minister argued that leadership should be judged by delivery, honesty and accountability rather than slogans and alliances formed only for elections.

She also defended her own public record, saying her time in government and public service can be measured through work already done.

“As for me, my record in every role I’ve upheld is written in the work that still stands today,” Karua told the crowd.

The statement appeared aimed at voters who are expected to weigh the experience and past performance of leaders seeking office in the next election cycle.

Karua targets Ruto

Karua has recently sharpened her criticism of President William Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza administration. During an earlier stop in Kirinyaga County, she accused the government of poor policy decisions that she said had hurt farmers in the Mt Kenya region.

She claimed tea farmers were losing billions of shillings after Sudan suspended imports from Kenya, linking the move to diplomatic tensions. Karua said ordinary farmers were paying the price for decisions made at the top.

Her Karatina message, however, focused less on foreign policy and more on the type of leadership Kenya should choose next.

The rally also came amid public discussion over the unity of opposition figures after some leaders attended separate events in different parts of the country this week. Questions had been raised after Karua and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i missed joint rallies attended by other opposition figures.

But allies have dismissed claims of divisions, saying each leader is free to strengthen their own political party while remaining committed to a shared national agenda.

Karua’s appearance in Karatina is likely to strengthen her standing in the Mt Kenya region, where parties are competing early for influence ahead of 2027. Her direct message may also appeal to voters frustrated by rising living costs, unemployment and frequent political wrangles.

By urging Kenyans not to accept “the same failure wearing a different face,” Karua signalled that she wants the next election to be about substance rather than personalities.