The death of Mwalimu Jackson Karua Njarubiu has brought attention to the family of People’s Liberation Party(PLP) leader Martha Karua, with a funeral announcement revealing the names of his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Jackson Karua died on Sunday, September 27, 2026, after spending his final hours with family at his home in Kirinyaga.
Martha Karua announced his death after visiting him together with her siblings earlier in the day. The family spent time with him and sang one of his favorite gospel hymns before Martha returned to Nairobi. She later learned that her father had died.
Karua has previously spoken about the important role her father played in her life, particularly during her education, legal career and public service.
Martha Karua was born to Mwalimu Jackson Karua Njarubiu and Josephine Wanjiru Karua, who raised their family in Kimunye, Gichugu, Kirinyaga County.
Jackson Karua was a teacher and was described as the patriarch of the family. He was married to Josephine Wanjiru, and together they had eight children, including Martha.
The family announcement names Margaret Karua, Hon. Martha Karua, Isaac, Jeffitha, Simon, Loise, Esther and Peter, among the children of Jackson and Josephine.
Jackson was also a father-in-law to Anne Mwangi, Esther Nyagah, Susan Mwaniki, and Esther Wachira, who are married to Isaac, Jeffitha, Simon, and Peter, respectively.
He was a brother to Charity Wacuka and the late Jemima Wanjiku, Juliana Muthoni, and Gladys Wamalwa.
Also Read: Martha Karua’s Father Dies
Martha Karua’s Mother on Her Leadership Traits
In 2022, Karua’s mother expressed her views over her daughter’s candidature as presidential running mate in the August 9 polls.
In a TV interview on Monday, May 9, Josephine praised Karua’s leadership, saying she was suited for the post of Deputy President.
Josephine Wanjiru Karua said her daughter, Martha Karua, was born to lead, noting that the family saw leadership traits in her from a tender age.
Wanjiru further disclosed that Karua took over the leadership mantle in the family, adding that her public service record will speak for itself should the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga consider her candidature.
“Since the time she began politics, I saw that God brought her to this world with a purpose because she has demonstrated leadership from a tender age. In the family, she was the one who organized things, and the others would follow what she would say.
“I cannot say that I will not be happy. If she is picked, God willing, I will say hallelujah because God will see that she is capable. I will not boast about it because she is a child of God working for God’s children,” she stated.
Martha Karua’s Siblings
Martha Karua’s siblings have largely stayed out of the political spotlight, although some have spoken publicly about her career.
In 2022, her brother Jephitha Karua spoke about Martha’s political journey after she was named as Odinga’s running mate. He described her as a person of integrity and reflected on the values the family had been raised with.
The funeral announcement identifies Martha’s siblings as Margaret Karua, Isaac, Jeffitha, Simon, Loise, Esther and Peter, although publicly available information about their individual occupations and current whereabouts remains limited.
Unlike Martha, who has spent decades in public life as a lawyer, politician and former Cabinet minister, most of her siblings have maintained a relatively private life.
The family announcement links some of the siblings to spouses and children, giving a wider picture of the family across several generations.
Karua’s Wider family
Jackson and Josephine, had 29 named grandchildren including Michael Murichu, Cathy Njeri, Grace, Muthaiga, Crystal Wawira, Jack Robert, Damaris Karua, Edward Karua Njoka, Kennedy, Mary Karoki, Jacklyne, Sam Wachira, Wandia, Benson Thuo, Diana, Washe Kazungu, Brian, Wanjiru Mwangi, Marc Karua, Mumbi Mwangi, Cynthia, Ken Kamau, the late Marcia Mwangi, Hilda Mwaniki, Adrian Mwai, Ted Mwaniki, Eva Wandia, Ryan Mwangi and Joy Wawira, among others.
Jackson Karua was also a great-grandfather. He had 20 named great-grandchildren. The announcement names Charles, Angel, Riya, Thandiwe, Gabriel, Bethlyne, Caleb, Chege, Malaka, Gad, Nyaga, Jeff, Megan, Malik, Ciku, Enzi, Thabo, Nyla, Ethan and Wachira, among others.
Also Read: Martha Karua Detained, Unreachable, Phone Switched Off
Martha Karua’s Political Journey
Martha Karua grew up in Gichugu, Kirinyaga County, in a family that emphasized education and discipline.
She was first elected MP for Gichugu in 1992 and served until 2013, when she unsuccessfully contested the Presidency and finished sixth with 43,881 votes.
Ms. Karua has served as minister in the ministries of Water and Justice until her abrupt resignation after she fell out with late former President Mwai Kibaki in 2008. She was once known as the ‘Iron Lady’ of Kibaki’s second regime because of her tough reputation and her role in defending his government.
In the 2017 general election, she contested the Kirinyaga governor’s seat but lost to Anne Waiguru.
She petitioned the High Court to nullify the outcome, citing irregularities, but lost again in the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court. She then took the matter to the East African Court of Justice in Arusha, where she sued the Kenya government for denying her the right to a fair trial.
In her presentation in Arusha, she produced video evidence she had filed at the High Court of Kenya, but it was lost or stolen while in the court’s custody; the court still went ahead to determine the election petition without investigating the issue.
The court found the Kenyan government liable and awarded her Ksh2.7 million in damages for infringing her right to a fair trial.
Martha Karua was the late Raila Odinga‘s presidential running mate in 2022.
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