Martha Karua has reflected on her political journey, recalling the moments that shaped her approach to leadership, constitutionalism and public service as she marked her 69th birthday.
The People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader, who turned 69 on Tuesday, September 22, said her political career had been defined by resilience, principled positions and a commitment to public service.
Karua, who has served in Parliament and Cabinet, described her thirties as a period when her character and convictions were being developed, while her forties and fifties tested and strengthened those principles.
“If my thirties were the years when the iron was being sharpened, then my forties and fifties were the years when it hardened,” she said.
She recalled one of the defining moments of her political career at the age of 43 when she walked out of a public gathering after then President Daniel arap Moi allegedly refused to allow the opposition to speak.
Karua said she raised her fist, then a symbol associated with the Democratic Party, as a demonstration that democratic expression could not be suppressed.
“At 43, I walked out of a public gathering after President Moi refused to allow the opposition to speak. In a country where many feared challenging power, I raised my fist, the symbol of the Democratic Party as a reminder that democracy will not be silenced,” she recalled.
Her political career later took her into government, where she served as Minister for Water before becoming Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
Karua said her appointment to the Water portfolio was unexpected but gave her an opportunity to contribute to reforms in the sector.
She said her subsequent role in the Justice ministry deepened her commitment to constitutionalism, accountability and equality before the law.
“I believed the law must apply equally to everyone, however powerful, and that public office must come with accountability,” she said.
Karua also reflected on the difficult negotiations that preceded the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution, saying the process required political rivals to engage despite deep disagreements.
She said her decision to resign from government in her early fifties was guided by her belief that holding office should never come at the expense of purpose and integrity.
At 57, Karua sought the presidency but did not win. She said the outcome did not weaken her commitment to serving Kenyans, arguing that public service should not be defined by electoral victories or political positions.
Addressing the description of her as the “Iron Lady”, Karua said she viewed the label through the lens of her commitment to justice.
“Iron, to me, is not about being hard. It is about refusing to bend where justice is concerned,” she said.
Karua urged people in their 40s and 50s to use their experiences to strengthen their principles and pursue purposes that extend beyond political titles.