•Karua was among the leaders who graced the Episcopal Golden Jubilee Ceremony of the Bishop Emeritus at Bukhungu stadium but had not been given chance to speak.
•The brief session of speeches saw Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa address the church first.
Bishop Emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of Kakamega Philip Sulumeti was on Saturday forced to break the protocol to invite Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua to address the congregation.
Karua was among the leaders who graced the Episcopal Golden Jubilee Ceremony of the Bishop Emeritus at Bukhungu stadium but had not been given chance to speak.
The brief session of speeches saw Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa address the church first.
Upon concluding his speech, he invited Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi to make his remarks.
Once Mudavadi ended his speech, the programme was handed back to the church.
When Bishop Sulumeti was invited to give his speech, he shared a message of gratitude to all who had graced his occassion.
He, however, could not end his speech without inviting Karua to speak.
The Bishop said he played a pivotal role in fighting for the rights of women and could therefore not allow his function to end without women speaking.
"We must also remember in the constitution of Kenya I fought very much for the rights of women and none of them was not accepted," he said.
He said that he must recognise Karua because she was the secretary and he was the chairman during the making of the constitution.
"All of us who have been talking here are right, but the left leg has not been here. Can I make a mistake that I will suffer for myself by inviting Martha Karua," he said.
Adding:
"So Martha just come and say hello to the congregation."
Karua made a walk to the podium and addressed the congregation. In her speech, Karua thanked the Bishop for contributing immensely to the success of the community.
She acknowledged the role the Bishop played in enacting the current constitution saying his contribution was significant.
Karua challenged leaders to honour the Bishop by safeguarding the gains made out of the Kenyan constitution.
Bishop Sulumeti is marking his 50th year of service since he was first ordained priest in 1972.
Leaders celebrated him as a selfless leader who helped in developing the foundation of the 2010 Constitution.
Other leaders present were Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula and Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale among other leaders.