In the midst of ongoing unrest in Tanzania, the leader of Kenya’s People’s Liberation Party (PLP), Martha Karua, has strongly defended women in leadership and called for equal representation in the country’s top political offices.
Speaking on Saturday, November 1, Karua emphasized that Kenya has reached a point where it must embrace gender equality by electing a woman as president.
She argued that female leaders are just as capable and deserving as their male counterparts, adding that the time has come for the country to trust a woman with the highest office in the land.
Karua made these remarks while responding to growing criticism aimed at Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu, who has been under heavy fire following violent protests and political unrest in her country.
Karua dismissed the idea that one woman’s leadership should be used to judge all women, saying such generalizations are unfair and outdated.
“People should not condemn all women simply because of one leader’s actions,” she said. “This time round, the Kenyan cake must also be handed to a woman so that every person’s rights can be fully protected.”
Karua went on to criticize those who question women’s ability to lead, citing examples from history to show that poor leadership is not tied to gender. “When I was asked what I think about what is happening in Tanzania, I said that Idi Amin was not a woman, and neither was Adolf Hitler.
Yet, in Kenya, where men have led since independence, people are still being killed,” she said, emphasizing that leadership failures occur among both men and women.
The former Justice Minister, who was Raila Odinga’s running mate in the 2022 General Election, urged Kenyans to judge leaders by their performance, integrity, and vision, not by their gender. “Do not blame women because one woman has done something wrong.
If a man or woman fails, that should be seen as an individual issue, not a reflection of the entire gender,” she stressed.
Karua’s bold statement comes as tensions continue to rise in Tanzania, where President Samia Suluhu’s administration faces widespread criticism following her controversial reelection. Thousands of Tanzanians have taken to the streets to protest what they describe as an unfair and undemocratic process.
Suluhu has been accused of stifling democracy by allegedly blocking prominent opposition leaders from taking part in the general elections held on Wednesday, October 29.
Among those affected is opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who was reportedly detained and prevented from participating in the polls.
Despite the opposition’s claims of irregularities and voter intimidation, President Suluhu was declared the winner on Saturday, November 1, securing nearly 98 percent of the total votes cast.
The result grants her a new five-year term, but it has also deepened the political divisions and unrest across the East African nation.
Karua’s message, however, was clear—Kenya should learn from such situations without letting them be used as excuses to undermine women’s leadership.
She concluded by urging Kenyans to open their minds and allow women an equal chance to lead, saying the country’s progress depends on inclusive leadership that values both men and women equally.
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