Karua urges Ruto to match tributes to Raila with democratic reforms

People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua has urged President William Ruto to honour the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga by advancing the democratic ideals he stood for instead of relying on symbolic gestures.

Speaking on a local TV station on Tuesday, October 21, Karua said the former prime minister’s life was defined by personal sacrifice, courage, and an unrelenting fight for justice and freedom.

“Raila’s life, most of his life, was always in trenches fighting for the people; in fact, together with his family, it was a sacrifice that he involved the family,” she said.

Karua noted that Odinga endured years of struggle and imprisonment while pushing for reforms that opened Kenya’s democratic space. She said his commitment came at a great cost to his family, who spent long periods apart as he fought for change.

“He was away from the family many times because of his stand in fighting for his people on fighting for people,” Karua added.

The PLP leader said true honour lies in continuing the late opposition leader’s mission of defending democracy and human rights. She challenged the current administration to prove its respect for Raila’s legacy through good governance and accountability.

“To honour him is not just decorating him with medals posthumously, it is actually ensuring that what he stood for is what is happening. Let us not have empty words, that is what I would tell William Ruto,” she said.

Karua also urged the government to stop abductions and extrajudicial killings, saying such acts betray the democracy Raila fought to build. She added that ending injustice would be the most fitting tribute to a man who dedicated his life to the people’s freedom.

She called on Kenyans to safeguard the values that Raila championed, saying his vision for justice and equality should continue to guide the country’s political path.