Education Background: Master of Laws Degree (LLM) from the University of Nairobi; a Bachelor of Laws Degree (LLB) from the same University Graduate Student (LLB (Hons), Law School) of University of London.
Mr Maraga was admitted onto the Roll of Advocates in October 1978. He joined the Judiciary in 2003 after being appointed a High Court judge.
He rose the ranks to join the Court of Appeal in 2012 and subsequently became a Chief Justice in 2016. He served as the fourteenth CJ for one term and retired in December 2020.
Mr Maraga made history in the electoral sphere as first Chief Justice in Kenya and Africa to cancel a President’s election. He overturned President Uhuru Kenyatta’s reelection in 2017.
In 2020 he hit headlines after advising President Kenyatta to dissolve parliament for failure to enact the gender parity rule.
The devoted follower of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church, was reported as the first State officer to stand before TV cameras and swear on a Bible that he had never taken a bribe in his life.
While being vetted for the job in 2016, he was confronted with allegations that he had taken bribes. He assumed the top seat after beating off his 10 competitors who included judges, legal practitioners and academicians.
Before being appointed a Judge of the High Court, he was a legal practitioner in private practice for 25 years, engaged in civil and criminal litigation as well as conveyancing matters. During that period, he was also a judge at the Nakuru Agricultural Show Trade Stands from 1985 to 1990.
Among the controversial moments he had as CJ was his war of words with President Kenyatta over delayed appointment of 41 judges recruited in 2019.
