Voters lose out during campaigns, says Karua

The Kenyan voter ends up the loser during election campaigns, Narc Kenya presidential aspirant Martha Karua has said.

The Gichugu MP said that while democratic elections are meant to empower citizens by voting in the leadership they desire, ordinary Kenyans suffer during every electoral cycle.

“The political class loots the taxpayer’s money in all manner of scandals, uses the same taxpayer’s money to bribe Kenyans and buy their votes. Kenyans accept the Sh100 offered, vote in the politician and the moment he assumes office, the cycle of looting continues.

"Politicians continue enriching themselves through their offices and positions while ordinary Kenyans cannot access basic services, such as food, quality education, health or even a little affordable credit to jumpstart their businesses”, she said.

She was addressing more than 600 youths from Nairobi County who gathered at the NARC-Kenya headquarters in Nairobi in a show of solidarity with her Thursday.

The youths were drawn from all the eight constituencies in Nairobi.

Twelve aspirants for different elective posts under the party expressed their wish to associate with Ms Karua’s "issue-based and people-driven campaign agenda".

They said Ms Martha Karua is the only candidate that shows genuine concern about Kenyans and could be trusted to turn-around the fate of the youth for the better by dealing with corruption and lawlessness.

Asked about if she planned to join any alliances, Ms Karua restated that the only alliances needed to redeem this country from the grip of impunity were the determination of Kenyans themselves and the power of ballot.

She said the youth were the rightful shareholders of Kenya and they are the only who could decide when they have had enough suffering.

“Have you had enough scandals that deny your health, food, transport and a decent livelihood? If yes, the time to act is now, and the weapon for winning this battle is your vote. Stop paying for the cost of corruption”, she said amid cheers from the youthful supporters.