People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua has strongly criticized the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Speaking during a live interview with a local radio station on Friday, March 14, 2025, Karua termed it a backdoor political arrangement that threatens Kenya’s democracy and accountability system.
According to Karua, the Political Parties Act provides clear guidelines on how parties should cooperate, particularly when one is in government.
She explained that if political parties wish to form a coalition before an election, they must sign a pre-election agreement and submit it to the Registrar of Political Parties at least three months before the polls, adding that both Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Alliance adhered to this requirement in the last election.
“MoU is the beginning of destroying our democracy and accountability system. The political parties act gives how two parties may cooperate, especially if one is in government.
“You have to have a written agreement either if it is before elections or three months before elections; if it is an agreement going into an election together, you have to deposit it with the registrar of political parties. That is what KK did; that is what Azimio did. These were the pre-election coalition agreements,” Karua said.
However, Karua noted that post-election cooperation between parties also has legal requirements, adding that if a political party wants to work with the ruling party after the elections, they must sign a post-election agreement, which must be submitted to the registrar within 21 days.
She further urged Raila and Ruto to follow the right procedures and formalize their cooperation under the legal framework, insisting that they still have time.
“After the elections, if you wish to work together as a political party and one is in the government, you must have a post-election agreement, which then must be deposited by the registrar of political parties within 21 days,” she urged.
“Reminding both Raila and Ruto they are not late; it is not 21 days yet. Do the honourable thing; do not pretend that you can have an MoU, which is not a coalition agreement, yet it is delving into the government of the country. This is a political marriage through a back door. A proper political marriage, as per our constitution and laws, must be a coalition agreement deposited with the registrar.
She noted that some opposition leaders allied with Raila are still serving in watchdog committees meant for parties outside the government. According to her, this compromises checks and balances since the very people who should be holding the government accountable are now working with it.
“And what harm do these documents cause to Kenyans is destroying the accountability of mechanisms they continue to sit on watchdog committees that belong to parties not in government,” she added.
