Cabinet Secretary for East African Community Affairs and Regional Development nominee Beatrice Askul Moe has explained the decision behind selecting NARC-Kenya’s Martha Karua as
Azimio’s running mate for the 2022 General Election.
Askul was a member of the selection panel that selected the running mate, with questions surrounding Karua’s suitability brought to the forefront during her vetting session before the Committee on appointments.
In response, Askul defended the decision, saying it was the correct choice after vetting all the candidates.
She added that the selection involved all parties under Azimio who had representatives on the selection panel.
“That was then that I was among the panelists that were able to choose the deputy party leader of Azimio. Actually, you work some things as they appear on the table,” she said.
“I ensured fairness as every party had a representative so there was no way I would take over as it’s only issues on the table, whereby we agreed on parameters of the person who would suit a running mate and those were the binding grounds through which they were vetted and the person we got had what it took because it was not ODM that picked but all political parties that decided. I was one person from ODM, the rest were from the other parties so whatever happened happened because there was a benchmark through which to operate. I was right at that time.”
Karua was among the candidates vetted by the Azimio committee in May 2022. Other candidates included Nominated MP Sabina Chege, Mining and Blue Economy CS Hassan Ali Joho, Cooperatives CS Wycliffe Oparanya, former Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui, Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka, former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth, former Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu, former Agriculture CS Peter Munya among others.
During the vetting session, Askul said she would use her past experience to address issues raised by people from the Arid and Semi-Arid (ASAL) areas.
“If appointed, I would incorporate people from arid lands through the people and policies into negotiating their raised issues to the Ministry for policy influence that favours them,” she noted.
She added that she would be present during the procurement of relief food to avoid any corruption or illegal practices that bedevil the ministry.
This is after Majority Leader Kimono Ichung’wah questioned why the prices of relief food are not based on the market prices but are based on the set cost from the companies that have won the tender.
If confirmed by the Committee and approved by the National Assembly, the nominee will become the first woman from the Turkana community to join Cabinet.
