In a newly released memoir, Against the Tide, Karua says there was simmering mutual suspicions between President Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga in the run-up to the highly divisive referendum.
She argues that discussions and compromise would have resolved the matter about whether to adopt either a parliamentary or presidential system.
Karua also blames then Justice Minister Kiraitu Murungi for not campaigning vigorously enough to save the Wako Draft from rejection, which was led by the Raila camp.
“On the Kibaki side, all the ministers aligned to the President took on the campaign. For some reason, the then Minister for Justice Kiratu Murungi did not step up as the lead campaigner for the Wako draft. On my part, I vigorously campaigned for the Wako draft, even though my docket was Water,” Karua writes.
“In hindsight, we failed as a leadership to put our egos aside and reason with each other to resolve our differences on the constitutional review process for the benefit of the country, resulting not just in the rejection of the Wako draft but also the deep divisions in the country.”
Karua also delves into why the Kibaki administration did not crack the whip on corruption cartels, blaming the President’s inner circle.
“My reading of what was going on in government was that on full recovery, President Kibaki was indebted to members of his inner circle who steered the country when he was incapacitated.”
