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First Woman Is Poised to Become Deputy President in Kenya

Presidential hopeful Odinga names Martha Karua as running mate
Karua served as lawmaker for two decades, and cabinet minister

Martha Karua — Martha Karua
Photographer: SOPA Images/Getty Images

By

David Herbling and

May 16, 2022, 10:40 AM UTCUpdated onMay 16, 2022, 1:29 PM UTC

Martha Karua may become the first woman to occupy the office of deputy president in Kenya after Raila Odinga announced her as his running mate in this year’s election.

“After 60 years of independence, we can’t excuse the male dominance of the executive,” Odinga, 77, said in a televised address on Monday. “History is calling us to close the gender gap in our country.”