Ex-CJ David Maraga rubbishes 'Ruto project' tag, denies eying AG role

Former Chief Justice David Maraga. (Photo: Handout)

By Mary Wambui
Friday, July 4, 2025

In a statement following the brutal murder of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang, Maraga declared that the ruling Kenya Kwanza regime was no longer fit to rule as it had lost 'public legitimacy'.

Nearly a month after declaring his 2027 Presidential bid, former Chief Justice David Maraga has maintained he is firmly in the bid to clinch the country's top seat come 2027.

Speaking to The Eastleigh Voice, Maraga refuted claims that he is seeking to clinch a senior state role after the general elections, specifically the Attorney General (AG) position, due to his storied tenure as CJ, remembered for his 'unwavering fidelity to the Constitution'.

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Maraga said that the assertion, including allegations that he is President William Ruto's project, is propaganda peddled by his detractors.

"I have heard that, but how do you expect me, at my age and having served as the Chief Justice, to be seeking such a position? Well, the holder of the office is a political appointee, but that is not what I am after. Many things are being said. I was also asked on Spice FM about the rumour about me being a project of President William Ruto, and I kept quiet. I am asking all Kenyans to watch this space and see whether I am Ruto's project," posed Maraga.

In a statement following the brutal murder of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang last month, Maraga declared that Ruto's Kenya Kwanza regime was no longer fit to rule as it had lost 'public legitimacy'.

"It's clear that the regime cannot and will not govern. We now demand that it steps aside to allow a reset: a restoration of accountability, respect for life and an end to the lawlessness we are witnessing," said Maraga.

In the following weeks, Maraga intensified his stance and primarily expressed his discontent over police brutality and extra-judicial killings, by, among others, showing up to condole with victims alongside human rights activists.

That has, however, not been without a cost as his recent decision to join Gen-Zs on June 25 in remembrance of the over 60 Kenyans who died during last year's protests led to the withdrawal of his security.

"I was told they (victims' families) had arranged to march and lay flowers so that their loved ones would not be forgotten and felt that they had a cause. I felt sympathetic and felt that it was a course I'd want to be identified with, for me, the march should be taken in a broader view. They were telling the nation that this should not happen to anybody else, that that time it was those victims who suffered, it could be you tomorrow," he said during his interview with Spice FM.

The march was, however, not to last long as less than 20 metres, the police lobbed teargas to break it off.

The following day, Members of Parliament condemned his participation, accusing him of political grandstanding, against his stature as a former CJ and taskforce chair who sought to improve the welfare of the National Police Service (NPS) in 2023.

"One major problem with the police is control by the executive. I heard people talk about the police being independent, but when you control the leadership of the police, what do you expect? The Constitution provides for competitive recruitment (Article 232) to especially senior positions, which was removed in 2016 by an amendment to the National Police Service Act," he said.

Part of the recommendations by the taskforce was for competitive recruitment to be restored to allow for the independence of NPS.

According to Maraga, the move should not, however, deny the office holder respect for the executive, as the nature of the job is such that the service must work with the president in restoring order and peace in the country.

"Now the president picks who he wants and takes his name to Parliament for vetting. That way, that person's loyalty is first to the president, so he will do what the president requires him to do and what that ends up as is police being weaponised against the opponents of the executive...If I am privileged to lead this country, I will restore that independence in the police and in many other institutions, including our universities," Maraga added.