Former Chief Justice and presidential aspirant David Maraga has warned that the country is facing a serious crisis of values, governance, and institutional integrity, while urging citizens to recommit to constitutionalism as the only path to national renewal.

In his New Year message shared via X on Thursday, January 1, 2026, Maraga painted a grim picture of Kenya’s current state, saying the economy is only working for President William Ruto and his close allies, adding that the country’s economic position is in peril as more citizens are pushed into poverty while a few individuals enjoy lavish lifestyles funded by stolen public resources.

The United Green Movement (UGM) leader accused the current administration of presiding over an economy that benefits a small circle of political allies at the expense of ordinary Kenyans. The former CJ also expressed concern over the future of children, citing the mismanagement of the education sector, and described the healthcare system as broken.

Looters thriving

”We come to the close of the year with deep reflection and profound possibility. Our nation faces a serious test of its values and its institutions.Our economy is in peril, with more and more Kenyans being pushed into poverty, while a few live lavish lives from stolen public funds. The economy is working only for Ruto and his cronies,” Maraga said in a statement.

He claimed billions of shillings have been siphoned from taxpayers through a flawed health financing system that, in his view, prioritises looting over delivering quality healthcare services to citizens.

However, despite these challenges, Maraga said Kenyans still possess a powerful tool for change: the Constitution. He described it not merely as a legal document, but as a moral covenant between the people and those entrusted with leadership, and the clearest expression of the nation’s collective will to build a just, accountable, and dignified republic.

A ray of hope

”Yet even in this moment, we carry something precious and powerful: a Constitution that, if faithfully lived, can reset our country and restore our hope. Our Constitution is not just a legal document. It is a moral covenant between the Kenyan people and those entrusted with leadership. It is the clearest expression of our collective will to build a just, accountable, and dignified Republic.” David Maraga said.

Eyeing the presidency in 2027, central to his message was a firm commitment to govern through Ukatiba constitutionalism in both word and action. He emphasised that constitutionalism means no one is above the law, power is exercised as a public trust rather than a privilege, and leadership is about service, not entitlement.

Ending corruption and impunity, Maraga said, would be his administration’s most urgent task. He termed corruption a moral failure that steals from the poor, weakens institutions, and robs future generations of opportunity. Under his leadership, he pledged, Kenya would change not through slogans but through strict fidelity to the Constitution and the rule of law.