Maraga hails Ol Kalou voters, announces Linda Kura initiative ahead of 2027 elections
By Emmanuel Rono, July 17, 2026Former Chief Justice David Maraga has praised the people of Ol Kalou for what he described as their resilience in the face of alleged intimidation during the recent parliamentary by-election, while announcing plans to launch a nationwide electoral integrity campaign ahead of the 2027 General Election.
In an X statement on Friday, July 17, 2026, Maraga commended residents for standing firm despite what he termed a lack of state protection.
“I applaud the people of Ol Kalou, who endured intimidation with more courage than the state showed them protection, for standing firm,” he said.
The former Chief Justice claimed the events surrounding the by-election had become a defining moment in the country’s democratic journey.
“Their ordeal in the face of this dictatorship has set the standard for popular resistance to electoral manipulation,” Maraga stated.
Launch of LindaKura initiative
Maraga also revealed that his campaign will, in the coming weeks, launch the #LindaKura initiative, which he said will seek to safeguard the integrity of elections.
“In the coming weeks, my campaign will launch the #LindaKura initiative to consolidate the gains in the High Court ruling confirming that elections as announced at the polling station are final,” Maraga revealed.
Maraga, who served as Kenya’s Chief Justice from 2016 to 2021, said his experience overseeing election-related constitutional disputes compels him to speak out against any perceived threats to electoral integrity.
“I have sat as Chief Justice of this Republic and adjudicated on what a free and fair election means. I will not now stand by and watch that standard be quietly buried ahead of the 2027 elections,” he said.
He argued that the Ol Kalou by-election should not be viewed as an isolated local political contest but as a key indicator of what could unfold during the next General Election.
“Ol Kalou was not a local contest. It is a rehearsal for 2027, and Kenyans must see it as such,” he added.