Martha Karua Biography: Age, Husband, Net Worth, Height, Parents, Career

Martha Wangari Karua is a prominent Kenyan lawyer, human rights advocate, and veteran politician. She served as the Member of Parliament for Gichugu Constituency from 1993 to 2013 and held key ministerial roles, including Minister for Water Resources Management and Development and Minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs.

Karua is widely recognized for her unwavering commitment to democratic reforms, women’s rights, and the rule of law in Kenya. In 2013, she ran for the presidency under the Narc Kenya party, and in 2022, she was the running mate to Raila Odinga in the Azimio la Umoja coalition.

Profile

• Full Name: Martha Wangari Karua
• Stage Name: Martha Karua
• Born: September 22, 1957
• Age: 67 years old
• Birthplace: Kimunye Village, Kirinyaga County, Kenya
• Nationality: Kenyan
• Occupation: Lawyer, Politician, Human Rights Advocate
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Jackson Karua and Josephine Wanjiru Karua
• Siblings: 7
• Spouse: Justice GBM Kariuki (divorced)
• Children: 2
• Relationship: Single
• Net Worth: KSh 150 million

Early Life and Education

Martha Wangari Karua was born on September 22, 1957, in Kimunye Village, Kirinyaga County, Kenya, to Jackson Karua and Josephine Wanjiru Karua. She is the second-born in a family of eight children.

Karua began her education at Mugumo Primary School, proceeded to Kabare Girls Boarding School, and later attended Nairobi Girls’ Secondary School for her O-levels. She earned her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi in 1980 and completed her postgraduate diploma at the Kenya School of Law in 1981. Karua is of Kikuyu ethnicity, and her religious affiliation is not publicly disclosed.

Career

Martha Wangari Karua began her legal career in the early 1980s, serving as a magistrate in various courts, including Makadara, Nakuru, and Kibera. In 1987, she resigned from the judiciary to establish her own law firm, Martha Karua & Co. Advocates, focusing on family law, human rights, and constitutional law. Karua gained prominence for defending pro-democracy activists during the single-party era, including representing figures like Raila Odinga.

In 1992, Karua entered politics and was elected as the Member of Parliament for Gichugu Constituency under the Democratic Party, becoming the first woman lawyer to be elected to Parliament. She was re-elected in subsequent elections and served until 2013. During her tenure, she held various ministerial positions, including Minister for Water Resources Management and Development (2003–2005) and Minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs (2005–2009). Karua was instrumental in advocating for legal and constitutional reforms, including the enactment of the 2010 Constitution.

In 2013, Karua ran for the presidency under the Narc Kenya party, becoming the first woman to do so in Kenya’s history. Although unsuccessful, she continued to be an influential figure in Kenyan politics. In 2022, she was selected as the running mate to Raila Odinga in the Azimio la Umoja coalition. Despite the coalition’s loss in the election, Karua remains a steadfast advocate for good governance, women’s rights, and the rule of law.

Social Media

• Twitter Handle: @MarthaKarua
• Facebook Handle: Martha Karua
• Instagram Handle: @marthakarua

Personal Life

Martha Wangari Karua was previously married to Justice GBM Kariuki, with whom she has two children whose names are not publicly known. Following their divorce, Karua has openly discussed the challenges of balancing her political career with single motherhood. She maintains a private personal life and is known for her dedication to public service and advocacy for social justice.

Net Worth

Martha Karua’s estimated net worth is approximately KSh 150 million. Her wealth primarily stems from her long-standing career in law and politics. Karua owns properties in Nairobi’s Rosslyn estate and her ancestral home in Gichugu, Kirinyaga County. She has emphasized transparency in her wealth declarations and has stated that she is not driven by the accumulation of wealth.