People Liberation Party leader Martha Karua has weighed in on the talks that brought President William Ruto and Azimio leaders together amid anti-government protests that rocked his administration following the 2022 elections

Speaking in an interview with a local radio station on Friday, September 5, 2025, the former Azimio running mate reiterated her opposition to the president’s advances to the Azimio side.

According to the outspoken lawyer, Ruto could not muster the courage to reach out to her.

“I was not called, and he could not have the courage to call me. Raila indicated to us that they talked, and I personally opposed it. We agreed on how it would look like if it was to be genuine talks,” she stated.

Karua also tore into the president’s motive in implementing the ten-point agenda agreed upon jointly with Raila’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), stressing that the process reeks of a lack of genuineness from the head of state.

The presidential hopeful asserts that Odinga’s camp was prematurely rushed into the deal with the government to their detriment.

“I was not a fan of NADCO; I never agreed with it at all. My Azimio brothers were duped into going into it. I knew Ruto was not genuine; it was apparent that talks that could take 90 days took a year, and today, implementation has been slow. I was sort of a pacifier in the mouth of a child,” she stated.

One-man show

The politician’s remarks come after she criticised the president for running the government as a one-man show. She says Ruto’s centralised control of ministries has rendered most cabinet members and advisers as mere ceremonial figures.

“You talk of advisers; Ruto is his own adviser. He is also the head of every ministry; everybody else is ceremonial. He advises himself. Those are just jobs he has given to his cronies. What is happening is the government is set up contrary to the Constitution. That is why everything is so wrong,” she said.