Nairobi — Kenyan Justice Minister Martha Karua resigned Monday, citing frustration with the pace of government reforms.

Karua's resignation comes two days after President Mwai Kibaki's appointment of five High Court judges Friday without Karua's approval. Karua was not aware of the swearing-in ceremony until it was reported by the media.

According to the Daily Nation, after hearing of the appointments Karua described herself as powerless: "If my hands are tied and the Judiciary continues to be used as a place where people sacked from parastatals are recycled, the agenda is forestalled and all reforms are annihilated, then I better leave and fights for the rights of ordinary [citizens]."

At a summit in Geneva last week, former United Nations chief Kofi Annan expressed frustration with Kenya's "grand coalition" Government.

"Ordinary Kenyans interpret the slow pace of reform as lack of political will on the part of their leaders," he said. "They see it, rightly or wrongly, as proof that the political elite are putting their own partisan interests above the interest of the nation as a whole."

At a press conference Monday, Karua told reporters "I will now be able to totally disagree with anything that is anti-reform."

Her resignation is widely viewed as a move to secure her bid for the presidency in 2012. Karua, a long-time politician from Kenya's Central Province, has already launched a campaign web site at www.marthakarua.net.

Kenya's coalition was formed in March 2008 to end violence and instability following the disputed December 2007 presidential elections.