The People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua has strongly opposed any move to merge Kenya’s political parties into a single entity, terming it unconstitutional and a threat to the country’s democratic foundations.
Speaking on Spice FM, Karua stated that attempts to “kill multipartism” violate Article 4(2) of the Kenyan Constitution, which defines the nation as a sovereign Republic and a multi-party democratic state rooted in the national values outlined in Article 10.
“I would have said that we fought for multi-party democracy, and I will remain in the opposition as the opposition will remain because it is sanctioned by the Constitution. The move to bring political parties under one roof is unconstitutional. We must have the opposition,” Karua said.
Her remarks come amid speculation that the ruling Kenya Kwanza administration could absorb the Raila Odinga-founded Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ahead of the 2027 General Election. Some political figures have hinted at joining forces with President William Ruto’s camp and endorsing his re-election bid.
Karua emphasized that dismantling opposition politics would not only breach the Constitution but also dishonour the late Raila Odinga’s lifelong struggle for democracy and political freedom.
“The greatest honour to Raila is to follow his ideals to uphold multipartism and the rights of the people. The regime must stop these violations,” she added.
Kenya’s journey to multipartism dates back to the early post-independence era. Initially, the Kenya African National Union (KANU) dominated politics after the dissolution of opposition parties in the 1960s. The Kenya People’s Union (KPU), founded by Jaramogi Oginga Odinga in 1966, was banned after facing state repression.
It wasn’t until 1991 that constitutional reforms restored multipartism, paving the way for the first multi-party elections in 1992. The 2010 Constitution further cemented this principle, making Kenya a permanently multi-party democracy.
Karua’s warning serves as a timely reminder of the hard-won democratic gains that remain enshrined in law—and the need to safeguard them.
