Former Chief Justice David Kenani Maraga has officially entered the 2027 presidential race, declaring that he will seek to succeed President William Ruto on the United Green Movement (UGM) Party ticket.
His announcement was madeon Thursday at the party’s headquarters in Nairobi, marking a major shift from his years in the judiciary to active politics.
Maraga was unveiled at the Green Action House, where he outlined his political vision and pledged to work towards strengthening the party ahead of the next General Election. He told party officials and supporters that his decision to join UGM was guided by shared values and principles.
“I accepted the call to join this party because it aligns with my personal principles and ideologies on a wide range of matters. This includes matters on the rule of law, respect for human rights and democratic governance, among others,” Maraga stated as he received the party’s colours. He added, “I have committed to building and restoring the dignity of Kenyans as well as protecting our human rights.”
The party, which is associated with politician Neto Agostinho, has been in operation since Neto’s defection from the Orange Democratic Movement. Neto, who previously represented Ndhiwa Constituency after a by-election in 2012, co-leads the party alongside other politicians.
Maraga has recently intensified his presence on the political scene, attending rallies and events organised by UGM to boost its grassroots support.
He has particularly focused on rallying Gen Z voters, positioning himself as their preferred candidate. His latest appearance was in Kwale during the launch of the party’s county office in June, where he called on young people to take up leadership roles.
He pledged to build the party into a strong political force capable of winning the presidency and securing a majority in Parliament during the upcoming elections.
To fund his campaign, Maraga has indicated that he will rely on contributions from well-wishers, a plan that has drawn mixed public reactions. He has previously clarified that he will contribute between Ksh1 million and Ksh2 million of his own funds to the presidential race.
Separately, Maraga responded to recent remarks by President Ruto regarding his public statements on the state of the nation. He said his comments had been taken out of context, insisting that his concerns were based on the events surrounding the Gen Z protests.
“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 stated.