Chief Justice Emeritus and presidential hopeful David Maraga has pushed back against calls for him to anchor his 2027 campaign on support from his home counties of Kisii and Nyamira, saying leadership should rise above tribal lines.
Maraga, who recently declared his interest in succeeding President William Ruto, maintained that his presidential ambition is rooted in a national vision, not regional loyalty. He argued that reducing his candidature to ethnic mobilization undermines the spirit of unity and inclusivity enshrined in the Constitution.
“I am not running to be the president of Kisii or Nyamira; I am running to be the president of Kenya. Our politics must mature beyond tribal enclaves if we are to achieve real progress,” Maraga stated firmly.
The former Chief Justice underscored that Kenya’s future depends on leaders who can build bridges across communities and rally citizens around issues of justice, development, and governance rather than ethnicity. He pledged to champion a campaign focused on integrity, equity, and accountability.
Maraga’s remarks come amid a heated realignment of political forces as the country inches closer to the 2027 General Election. His stance against tribal politics has sparked conversations among Kenyans, with some hailing him as a principled leader while others question his ability to marshal the kind of broad-based support necessary to mount a serious presidential challenge.
By distancing himself from ethnic-based politics, Maraga seeks to position himself as a unifying candidate with a message of fairness and constitutionalism, values that defined his tenure at the helm of the judiciary.
