Former Chief Justice David Maraga says if elected president, his first priority will be to fight corruption right away, giving Kenyans a clear promise that he wants their vote to make real change happen.
Maraga, running under the United Green Movement for the 2027 elections, laid it out plain in recent statements that have people talking across the country. He told supporters that corruption stands as the biggest roadblock holding Kenya back.
Public money meant for roads, schools, hospitals, and help for the needy keeps disappearing into pockets of greedy politicians and officials. Cut that out, he argues, and everything else – from better services to faster growth – starts working the way it should.
The retired judge, famous for annulling the 2017 presidential election over irregularities, has built his campaign around integrity and straight talk. In stops across counties like Kitui, Machakos, and others, he keeps hitting the same note: Kenya isn’t poor; the real problem is theft of public resources.
He promises zero tolerance – no exceptions for family, friends, or even party members caught dipping into state funds. Jail time would follow, no questions asked.
This message lands at a time when many Kenyans feel fed up. Stories of missing billions in scandals fill the news almost weekly. From fake projects to ghost workers and inflated contracts, the drain on the treasury never seems to stop.
Maraga points to that frustration and says his background as a no-nonsense judge gives him the edge to tackle it head-on. He led the judiciary through tough reforms and stood firm when pressure came from high places. Now he wants to bring that same firmness to State House.
A lot of young people, especially those who took part in past protests, see him as a steady hand who could deliver accountability. Some even float ideas of him teaming up with other opposition figures to stand a better chance against the ruling side.
Skeptics push back hard. They ask why he didn’t jail more corrupt players when he ran the courts. Others call it easy talk from someone outside the rough-and-tumble of day-to-day politics.
Running for president takes big money, strong alliances, and a machine that can turn votes into wins. Maraga has opened party offices, toured counties, and urged everyone – especially first-time voters and Gen Z – to register and get ready. He hints at working with a united opposition if that’s what it takes to push the current government out after one term.
His campaign also touches other hot buttons. He has said he would scrap the Social Health Authority scheme if voted in, arguing it burdens people without delivering real care.
That pledge draws both applause and questions about what would replace it. Still, the core pitch stays simple: fix corruption first, then watch services improve and life get better for ordinary families.
Whether that translates into real support at the ballot box remains to be seen. Politics in Kenya can shift quick – coalitions form, money flows, and scandals derail even the strongest starts.
For now, his words strike a chord with many who want someone to finally stop the bleeding of public cash. He ends his messages with a direct appeal: give me the chance, dear Kenyans, and you will see change. As the countdown to elections ticks on, more people are listening to what the former chief justice has to say about cleaning house at the top.
