Will ex-CJ Maraga’s presidential dream excite Kenyans? Observers give their take
Maraga, who has been toying with the idea of moving to the House on the Hill following support from Gen Z, the country’s youngest voters and aggressive change agitators, said he is ready to offer himself for the top job from where he will be able to initiate change.
The announcement by former Chief Justice David Maraga that he might be on the ballot in the 2027 presidential election has elicited varied reactions on whether Kenyans are ready for “a clean pair of hands” candidate.
Maraga, who has been toying with the idea of moving to the House on the Hill following support from Gen Z, the country’s youngest voters and aggressive change agitators, said he is ready to offer himself for the top job from where he will be able to initiate change.
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"At the end of the day, it is the people who will decide. Just relax, wait, and in due course, you will make your mind yourself whether or not I'm a state project," he said.
The Eastleigh Voice spoke to political observers about their views on Maragas’s bid and whether it can tilt the dimension of political discourse and even realignments ahead of the 2027 presidential duel.
Lawyer Javas Bigambo, a governance specialist and political communication strategist, notes that the former CJ is constitutionally merited to entertain whatever political ambitions he can muster; sadly, he is yet to costume himself as a politician. His demeanour is still too corporate, overly laid back, and he is yet to scratch the surface of political battle, Bigambo says.
“He needs to quickly bring himself to the realisation that the scales of public trust for judicial officers and political leaders vary. He was deeply respected and trusted as a CJ. To earn political respect, he needs to expose his political claws, shed off the corporate demeanour, and be on an overdrive of political engagement,” notes Bigambo.
In his observation, for Maraga, being a lone ranger will not afford him clout.
Bigambo thinks that the other reason the former CJ needs to make himself clear to the public is why he is running, for whom and why he cannot sit back.
“He needs to give his candidature a vital cause, which he hasn't.”
Political analyst Samuel Owida says that there’s more to politics than just being a clean person who served with a clean hand. He advises that politics is dirty, and the dirty ones have mastered the art of using dirt to clean themselves and arrive at leadership.
“By virtue of his constituency, which he hasn't demonstrated any of grip and without no constituency looking for someone to inherit it, Maraga may just be ignored at the ballot. Then lastly, the resources required and how to access the very resources isn't a mean business,” argues Owida.
Matiang’i’s candidature
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, who is pushing for former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i’s candidature, is, however, accusing Maraga of being a sponsored candidate out to spoil Matiang’i’s chances.
“Look at who is with him – government operatives. Look at all the government bloggers attacking Matiang’i. Who are the people he is with in his functions?” asked Onyonka.
The former CJ was, however, quick to point out that the final word rests with the electorate while denying that he is anyone's project.
"We are praying that they (IEBC selection panel) select fit people, honest people to deliver a free and fair election," Maraga said:
Last week, Maraga said he is ready to serve, citing his tenure at the Judiciary.
“I was head of one arm of government. There is no magic about being a head of another arm of government,” he said.
He stated that he knows the problems facing Kenyans well, listing corruption as the major issue.
“The major problem in this country is corruption. Budgeted and institutional corruption that is not being solved effectively and as a result, the country is not able to have enough resources to deal with the issues that are there,” Maraga said.
Former Law Society of Kenya President Nelson Havi has heaped praises on Maraga’s candidature, terming it timely and necessary.
“We now need a competent, vocal, virtuous and vibrant woman, a professional for that matter, to deputise David Maraga in the race for President in 2027,” he said.
Maraga’s supporters in online social media platforms, especially X, are casting him as an ideal candidate whose integrity is unquestionable.
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