Former Chief Justice David Kenani Maraga has formally declared his interest in the 2027 presidential race, announcing that he will vie on the United Green Movement (UGM) ticket.
The retired judge was unveiled at the party’s Nairobi headquarters, where he accepted the party colours and pledged to strengthen the movement ahead of the polls.
“I accepted the call to join this party because it aligns with my principles and ideologies. These include the rule of law, respect for human rights, and democratic governance,” Maraga said.
He added: “I have committed to building and restoring the dignity of Kenyans as well as protecting our human rights.”
Rallying Gen Z Support
Maraga has in recent months positioned himself as a Gen Z candidate, stressing the importance of mentoring young people. He has also been a regular face at UGM events, including the official launch of the party’s Kwale County office in June.
The UGM, co-led by politician Neto Agostinho, traces its roots to Neto’s defection from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). Neto, who once served as Ndhiwa MP, has backed Maraga’s push to popularise the party nationally.
Funding and Party Strategy
Maraga has committed to not only strengthening UGM ahead of 2027 but also securing majority seats for the party. On financing his campaign, he has previously called on “Kenyans of goodwill” to contribute, while pledging to inject a personal sum of between KSh1 million and KSh2 million. The approach has drawn mixed public reactions.
Responding to Ruto
The former CJ also addressed his recent spat with President William Ruto, insisting his comments on Kenya’s governance had been misrepresented.
“The President distorted what I said. I didn’t say Kenya is a failed state. I said that Kenya is sliding toward being a failed state based on what happened during the Gen Z protests,” he clarified.
Ruto had earlier criticised Maraga for what he termed an unfair characterisation of the country.
Maraga now turns his focus to building momentum for UGM, which hopes to emerge as a strong challenger in the 2027 race.
