Former Chief Justice David Maraga says the fight against corruption, the restoration of the rule of law, and an end to impunity and police brutality will be top of his list should he be elected the 6th president in 2027.
In an exclusive interview with NTV on Wednesday night, Mr Maraga urged Kenyans to move away from ethnic politics and resist any attempts to divide them along ethnic lines.
“I am not going to dish out funds. This is what has brought this country down to where it is today. People with money buy your souls. They don't care about the country. They just want to recover what they spent and accumulate resources,” he said, noting that he would reach out to Kenyans to crowdfund his campaigns.
One-on-one with Maraga: 'When I become president...'
He presented the 2027 presidential race as a contest between those who believe in the rule of law and those who have flagrantly violated it, even resorting to ‘killing children like rats’.
The 74-year-old, who served as Chief Justice of Kenya from October 2016 until his retirement in January 2021, projected himself as the Gen Z presidential candidate, seemingly in an attempt to capitalise on the current wave of disaffection among young people towards President Ruto’s administration.
Gen Z, who staged a historic nationwide protest against the Finance Bill in June last year, have become an attractive voting bloc for politicians seeking the highest office in the land.
“To see our young people being handled the way they have been handled it is something which is extremely worrying. So, I mean, after discussions with friends and others, and after serious reflection, I thought it is time that we think about the leadership of this country,” said Mr Maraga.
“We can't let some people literally take our country to the dogs. We need to think about that seriously. And as a result of that reflection, I have made up my mind that I will run in 2027 for the presidency of this country,” he declared.
The declaration by Mr Maraga to run for president adds him to the growing list of individuals who have indicated their plans to run against President Ruto. Others keen to challenge Dr Ruto include Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, People’s Liberation Party (PLP) boss Martha Karua and DAP-K’s Eugene Wamalwa.
Nation Media Group's Editor in Chief Joe Ageyo and former Chief Justice David Maraga.
Although impeached and consequently barred from running for an elective seat, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has indicated he would be free to run so long as he has not exhausted his appeal mechanism.
Mr Maraga is remembered for his contribution in the corridors of justice and while serving on the bench. He rose through the ranks to the apex of the judiciary, where he served as the Chief Justice and president of the Supreme Court of Kenya.
In 2027, he made history 2017 when he led the Supreme Court judges in nullifying a flawed presidential election in which the electoral commission had handed Uhuru Kenyatta a second term in office, citing “illegalities and irregularities”.
“We are having a state of affairs where we have a breakdown of the rule of law. Those in authority think they can do whatever they want to do and escape with it. If we continue like that we will not have a country,” he said.
“Given a chance, I would want to call the country back to order. How? As the head of state with the powers given to that office, I will require everybody to obey the law starting with myself. We are in that moment where we want someone courageous to do exactly that.”
“You were around in 2017, you saw what I did. We had a stolen election and we nullified it. When there was a petition on implementation of two thirds gender, in my capacity as CJ, I recommended to the president to dissolve parliament. If Kenyans give me an opportunity, I will make sure we have rule of law,” said Mr Maraga.
Concerns over youth treatment
He accused President Ruto’s administration of losing touch with the common man, stating that some of the individuals in positions of power think “they can do anything including killing young children like rats.”
He promised to restore public trust in institutions by ensuring adherence to the rule of law. He described the current state of affairs as a total breakdown of the rule of law.
“80 percent of the Kenya population are people under the age of 40. The minority of us who are above 40 do not want to realise that it is time we get the young people to be involved in the leadership of the country,” he said.
On whether, he would join forces with other opposition political figures ahead of the 2027 race, Mr Maraga said he would work with those who share same values.\
The other opposition leaders, among them Mr Gachagua, Mr Musyoka, Ms Karua, Dr Matiang’i and Mr Wamalwa have announced their plan to form a coalition and front a single candidate to challenge Dr Ruto.
The politicians were, however, in opposing camps in the last general elections, with Mr Gachagua in Dr Ruto’s camp and Ms Karua, Mr Musyoka and Mr Wamalwa in Mr Odinga’s Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition. The country’s politics have largely been anchored on individual interests devoid of any ideological conviction.
“I will work with people who have the same views that I share and those of Kenyans. Kenyans are tired, they are fed up. Those who want to be on the side of Kenyans will join me and we work.
We will enforce chapter Six of the constitution. This is a moment we are not going to have coalitions to enrich other people,” he said.
Strategy for slaying corruption
On his plan to fight corruption, Mr Maraga said he would have the right people to lead the country’s investigative agencies. He said, with the right investigators, the country will be able to slay the corruption dragon.
“I was privileged to head the taskforce on police reforms, I went around the country and I spoke with police officers. We have very honest police officers but they are given mixed signals, they are not allowed to do their work.”
David Maraga
Photo credit: File
“The corruption deals which are there are facilitated by those in power. Much of the corruption in this country is budgeted corruption where money is budgeted for projects but it ends up serving other purposes. Ask yourself what the borrowing which has been done since 2013 has done.
Kenyans are burdened with public debt because these borrowings have been taken and ended up in people’s pockets. I will face corruption head-on and I know what I am up to. I will step on toes and I will do it.”
He also admitted to the existence of corruption within the judiciary, an institution he led for more than four years.
“We got complaints from Kenyans and we placed those complaints where there was evidence, we sent people home. Just before I was appointed a judge of the supreme court, I was privileged to head a tribunal that investigated a judge. There was evidence, and we sent him home.”
He said most of the country’s institutions have been broken down because of interference by those in high offices.
“You will get them asking what is mkubwa saying regarding this? If I get someone waiting for me to tell him what to do. I will sack them. I will provide leadership to enable the Kenyan professionals to do what they need to do.”
Mr Maraga also demanded for the need of free and fair elections, saying that the people will this time be more vigilant to avert any possible manipulation of elections.
“A free and fair election comes with the management of the election. This time round, the Kenyans are going to be vigilant and elections are won in the polling stations. I want Kenyans to be vigilant and make sure that their votes matter. Even if we are going to have rigging, it will not succeed,” he said.
