Martha Karua, leader of the People's Liberation Party, has urged Kenyans to support the election of the country's first female president amid criticism of women's leadership in Tanzania. Speaking on November 1, 2025, she defended women leaders against blanket condemnations. Karua emphasized gender equality in leadership to protect individual rights.
On Saturday, November 1, 2025, Martha Karua, the leader of the People's Liberation Party (PLP) and former running mate to Raila Odinga in the 2022 General Elections, addressed growing criticism of women's leadership. Her remarks came in response to unrest in Tanzania following President Samia Suluhu's reelection.
Karua accused some Kenyans of making blanket condemnations of women leaders based on the actions of one individual. 'Do not blame women because one woman has made a mistake. Similarly, if a woman or a man does wrong, we should not blame all the men,' she stated.
Defending women's capacity to lead, Karua drew historical parallels. 'I was asked what I think about what is going on in Tanzania, but I responded saying that Idi Amin was not a woman; likewise, Adolf Hitler was not a woman, even though Kenya is not led by a woman, yet people are being killed,' she said.
She reiterated the need for gender equality in Kenyan politics. 'This time round, the Kenyan cake must also be handed to a woman so that the rights of every individual can be protected,' Karua added, calling for the election of Kenya's first female president.
The context stems from Tanzania's general elections on October 29, 2025, where Suluhu was declared the winner on November 1 with nearly 98 percent of the votes, securing a five-year term. She faces accusations of undermining democracy, including the arrest and detention of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, which barred him from participating. This has led to widespread protests against her administration.
Karua challenged Kenyans to judge leaders on performance, not gender, amid the regional political tensions.