Martha Karua has kept her private life private.

Little is known about her personal life and in a local interview she spoke up and talked about her family life.

The debate on work-life balance is one that many career women face.

For Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua, also coined the ‘Iron Lady’ juggling her responsibilities as a young mother while advancing in her legal profession was a significant part of her journey.

Motherhood remains one of Karua’s most joyous experiences, but it came with challenges.

During the interview, Karua recounted how she had to make a court appearance just four days after giving birth to her second son.

“I just had to go back to my station in Kibera.

She called the clerk and told him to alert the magistrate that she had left a 4-day-old baby at home and just wanted him to take the plea in that case so I can return home,” she shared.

“I wanted to appear for my client because you can’t earn if you’ve not appeared. Within five minutes, I was out of the courtroom and back to my baby and rest.”

Despite this demanding schedule, Karua said she never found it difficult to juggle her roles as a mother and a lawyer. “It was not difficult because I didn’t see the difficulty. I was equal to the task,” she said.

Karua also highlighted the realities many mothers face as primary caregivers.

“Mothers are always single even in the context of the household because the bulk of the work falls on them. They’ll have companionship, but the work of bringing up the children is on them,” she explained.

She noted a positive change in recent times, with more fathers becoming actively engaged in parenting.

“Very few fathers are active and engaged in fatherhood. It’s only these days that I’m seeing young men even changing diapers or carrying their babies.”

Karua’s turbulent marriage

Karua also spoke about her personal life, including her marriage and the challenges she faced.

After meeting an army major doctor and starting a relationship, they began living together in what she described as a Kikuyu elopement.

She later changed her status from Martha Karua to Martha Njoka.

However, the union became strained in the second year.

“In November 1985, my daughter was born, then the marriage had its own turbulence.

Within the second year, there was turbulence, I got my son. And, before I got my son, my contract was ending in July 1987.

I thought, I can’t contribute effectively to my family with this income, so I left and started my own practice,” she said.

Through it all, Karua’s story is one of resilience and determination, illustrating the intricate balance between personal responsibilities and professional ambitions. Her journey continues to inspire many women navigating similar path