Who Is David Maraga? The Former Chief Justice Running for President

David Maraga, Kenya's Chief Justice from 19 October 2016 until he retired on 12 January 2021, is the United Green Movement (UGM) presidential candidate for the 10 August 2027 election. Most Kenyans know him as the judge who presided over the Supreme Court when it annulled the August 2017 presidential election. On 23 September 2026 he was in the middle of a three-week tour of the United States, while also leading a coalition that is pressing the IEBC for electoral reforms.

From Nakuru lawyer to Chief Justice

Maraga was born on 12 January 1951 in South Nyanza, according to Wikipedia, and studied law at the University of Nairobi, graduating in 1977. He was admitted to the bar in 1978 and practised privately in Nakuru for about 25 years, chairing the Rift Valley Law Society from 1987 to 1989.

In October 2003 President Mwai Kibaki made him a High Court judge. After postings in Mombasa, Nakuru and Nairobi he went up to the Court of Appeal in January 2012, and at his vetting that year he swore on a Bible that he had never taken a bribe. The moment stuck.

The National Assembly approved him as Chief Justice on 18 October 2016. He took the oath the next day.

The 2017 annulment and the 2020 advisory

On 1 September 2017 the Supreme Court, by four votes to two, annulled the presidential election in which Uhuru Kenyatta had been declared the winner. The majority found illegalities and irregularities in how it had been run. Kenyatta attacked the judges in public while saying he would respect the decision. The repeat election was held in October 2017.

Three years later, on 21 September 2020, Maraga advised President Kenyatta to dissolve Parliament for failing to pass the law giving effect to the two-thirds gender rule. The High Court suspended the advisory and Parliament stayed.

Entering politics

On 2 October 2025 Maraga joined the United Green Movement, co-led by Agostinho Neto (Ndhiwa), and was handed its presidential certificate, The Star reported. UGM said the decision had been approved by its Founders Forum, National Executive Committee and National Governing Convention. "Ukatiba" is Maraga's word for constitutionalism and the name he gives his platform. He has urged young people to register through a Gen Z voter drive.

His campaign says the "Ukatiba Caravan" visited 43 counties between February and April 2026. The Standard reported on 16 June 2026 that he had formally declared his bid, with corruption at the centre of it. The same day the gospel musician Reuben Kigame said he would back Maraga.

The reform coalition and the tallying fight

On 15 September 2026, at the Sarova Panafric in Nairobi, Maraga led the People's Coalition on Electoral Reforms in setting out five demands to the IEBC. With him were Caleb Amisi (Saboti), Caroli Omondi (Suba South), Ekuru Aukot and Justin Muturi. The Nation reported the demands as:

• no national presidential tallying centre at Bomas;
• an independent audit of the voter register by 15 November 2026;
• mandatory five-year jail terms for electoral offences;
• election technology from more than one vendor;
• open recruitment of IEBC staff.

If the demands were ignored, the coalition said, there would be protests. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale disputed the proposal to scrap national tallying.

A week later it was in the courts' hands. On 22 September the High Court, in a petition led by Okiya Omtatah (Senator, Busia), upheld the IEBC's power to verify and tally presidential results nationally, while barring it from altering constituency figures. The Standard reported on 23 September that the coalition would appeal. Our explainer on what the national tallying centre can change covers the legal argument.

The diaspora tour

Maraga began a US tour in Washington DC on 17 September 2026, with stops planned in Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Minnesota, Georgia and Texas until about 5 October. The Eastleigh Voice reported on 17 September that the US group Vanguard Africa would support his bid.

He wants the Elections Act changed to allow diaspora e-voting. The IEBC said on 23 September that it would not happen in 2027. See diaspora voting in 2027 for what Kenyans abroad can vote for.

Where he stands

Maraga sits outside both the Ruto-ODM arrangement and the Kalonzo-led opposition talks. UGM had not named a running mate by 23 September 2026. In June 2026 Amisi floated a Maraga-Sifuna ticket, People Daily reported, but nothing had come of it publicly by that date.

In the national polls we found for 2026 he was not among the leaders. For the full field, see who is running for president. The next markers are the coalition's appeal on tallying and its 15 November audit deadline.