Karua, Ndii Clash Over Claims Ruto Funded Linda Katiba

Narc Kenya Party leader Martha Karua has sparred with David Ndii over the latter’s assertions that President William Ruto had funded the Linda Katiba movement prior to the 2022 general election. 

Linda Katiba Forum was a movement spearheaded by activists to oppose alterations to the Constitution as proposed in the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI). The BBI was a project driven by former President Uhuru Kenyatta to carry out a major constitutional reform. Karua has denied Ndii’s claims, saying that he had not disclosed any source of funding and that the members of the movement had funded their own activities. 

“David Ndii I am disappointed… Throughout our collaboration with Linda Katiba, you never disclosed any funding from William Ruto or anybody else. We contributed to our expenses until the end when we secured funding from a philanthropist. If at all Ruto funded you it was your own private affair.” Karua wrote on her official Twitter account. 

Ndii had recently claimed on Twitter that Ruto had supported the initiative. Activist Boniface Mwangi, another person who Ndii claimed had been helped by Ruto, countered the economist’s remarks, pointing out that Ndii had not been present when the Linda Katiba name was coined nor had he provided any funds for the group’s activities. The former Linda Katiba Movement members included Jerotich Seii, former Makueni governor Kivutha Kibwana, Wanjeri Nderu, Diana Ngao, Ndung’u Wainaina, Reuben Kigame, Daisy Amdany, Boniface Mwangi, Martha Karua and David Ndii.

Karua defended Mwangi, saying that he was never given any money by Ruto, the then Deputy President of Kenya. Karua, Raila’s running mate in the 2022 General Elections, stated that Ndii mentioned Ruto’s financial backing when he already had a legal case against the BBI. Later, Karua joined Raila’s Azimio La Umoja Coalition and was fronted as the running mate for the elections that they narrowly lost to Ruto.