Maraga to skeptics: I'm firmly in presidential race

Former Chief Justice David Maraga has reaffirmed that he is firmly in the presidential race and intends to see it through to victory, warning skeptics of his candidature to brace for a “rude shock.”

Cup pressure peaks as Shabana host Kenya Police in blockbuster quarter-final Football

Upper Hill coach Walgwe unperturbed despite drawing giants in Prescott Cup group phase Rugby

Maraga, the United Green Movement (UGM) party presidential candidate, was speaking in Garissa during a voter mobilisation and national ID registration drive dubbed the Katiba Caravan.

The exercise aims to encourage residents to acquire identification documents and register as voters ahead of the 2027 general election.

The former Chief Justice, who is accompanied by a team of UGM officials and candidates contesting various elective seats, is touring the northern region and is set to traverse Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera counties.

Maraga said he had been deeply encouraged by the overwhelming support he has received from Kenyans across the country, noting that the reception affirms his belief that the country is ready for change.

“I would not be doing all of this, going around the country to 47 counties, driving long, long distances, if this were just a public relations exercise. We are serious. We want to change the governance systems of this country,” said Maraga.

“One thing I am very happy about is that everywhere I go, Kenyans are telling me, ‘CJ, we are behind you; please don’t stop, go ahead.’ That is quite encouraging. Kenyans want change, fundamental change. And that is what I promise,” he added.

Maraga identified the plunder of public resources and entrenched corruption as the biggest obstacles holding the country back, blaming poor leadership for the misuse of public funds.

“Wherever we have been in this country, Kenyans are crying over the misuse of public resources and corruption that is orchestrated by leadership. They want this fixed, and I want to give an assurance that I will tackle that head-on once I assume leadership,” he said.

He further lamented that more than 60 years after independence, some parts of the country continue to struggle with basic necessities such as water, singling out the Tana River region and northern Kenya as stark examples of leadership failure.

“In Garissa, there is flooding when it rains and drought when it does not. All this happens when River Tana crosses right through the middle of the town. Yet residents are still struggling to access water. This should not be happening,” he said.

Maraga urged Kenyans to seize the opportunity to register as voters and exercise their constitutional right to vote, saying meaningful change can only be realised through the ballot.

He also called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to deploy more officials across pastoralist regions to ensure that nomadic communities are not disenfranchised.

“We know this is a pastoralist region, and many potential voters move with their families and livestock in search of water and pasture. It is the duty of the electoral body to reach them wherever they are,” he said.

“Our call to IEBC is to make voter registration a continuous exercise—going to mosques, churches, marketplaces, and wherever people gather—so that Kenyans can register as voters.”

UGM Co-Organizing Secretary Aden Yussuf Bute said the party’s mission is to rally residents to acquire ID cards and register as voters, noting that good leadership begins with civic participation.

“Our country is yearning for good leadership, and that can only be realised if Kenyans register as voters and elect leaders of integrity. In Maraga, we have a leader who can truly transform this country for the better,” he said.

“The biting drought has taken a heavy toll on our people. We are not here to sing political songs—we are here with a simple clarion call: register as voters and take charge of your future.”

Garissa County UGM Coordinator Nimo Deco emphasised the role of young people and women in shaping the country’s leadership through the vote.

“We want to educate the youth and our mothers—especially those who are illiterate—on the importance of first acquiring ID cards and then registering as voters. We have complained about poor leadership for decades; this is the time to bring change by voting for good leaders,” she said.

Wajir County UGM Party Coordinator Amina Bishar Malim said she was proud to be associated with the party, which she described as a strong advocate for accountability and responsible use of public resources.

She noted that although the youth have shown courage in holding leaders accountable, voter apathy remains a major challenge during elections.

“In Maraga, we have the perfect man for the job. He ticks all the boxes of good leadership. Throughout his career as a civil servant, he has proven that he can be trusted with the leadership of this country. But for this dream to be realised, the youth must register as voters in large numbers and vote,” Amina said