Former Chief Justice David Maraga has stated that if given the opportunity to govern Kenya, his leadership would be anchored on strict adherence to the law, transparency, and tackling corruption.

Speaking at the People Dialogue Festival on Thursday, March 6, 2025, Maraga, who served as Kenya’s Chief Justice from 2016 to 2021, emphasized that his hypothetical presidency would prioritize the rule of law above all else.

“If I was to be given the privilege to govern this country, I would get everybody to obey the law. The moment you have everybody obeying the law, everything will fall into place,” he said.

According to the former Chief Justice, strict adherence to legal frameworks would automatically address the fiscal management issues that plague the country.

“The moment you get everybody obeying the law, the question of money going, or not going through the consolidated fund would end. The moment of diverting funds from a given project to another would end and the country would run smoothly,” he explained.

Tackling corruption, transparency and accountability

Maraga identified corruption as the primary challenge facing Kenya and many other African countries.

“The truth of the matter is what is ailing this country and many, many African countries is corruption. The moment you deal with corruption, we will have no problem,” he emphasized.

Maraga criticized leaders who misuse public resources for personal gain, arguing that accountability and proper use of funds are essential for building public trust and improving service delivery.

“You are given resources to use for the welfare of the people. You take it all to yourself, now you begin speaking a language and some people think that some of us did not go to school and can’t understand the English they are using,” Maraga stated.

He insisted that with transparency, the government would be in a better position to justify financial requests and secure more resources for national development.

“We don’t have infinitive resources, the resources are there and are limited, but if a government is saying, ‘I have ten million shillings here, I’ve used this here, I’ve used this here, give me more,’ you’ll give the government more money,” he stated.

He emphasized that transparency builds public trust, which is essential for effective governance.

“When you are transparent and use the resources that have been entrusted to you for the purposes they are entrusted to you,” he noted.

Maraga’s political future

This statement adds to Maraga’s growing list of remarks concerning his potential candidacy in the upcoming general election.

In recent months, he has voiced concerns that the country has strayed off course and needs a dedicated, honest, and straightforward leader to guide it back to the right path.

Several politicians have rallied behind him, encouraging him to run for the presidency.

On February 1, 2025, Saboti Member of Parliament Caleb Amisi urged Kenyans to support Maraga’s candidacy.

“If Kenyans are looking for a new start, get Maraga out of retirement, mobilise resources, and campaign for him. The rest are usual political dinosaurs or representatives/scions of the bourgeois status quo. They will not sell against Ruto. It must be real and believable. Renaissance!” he wrote.

In January 2025, Maraga publicly opposed the abduction of young activists who are critical of President William Ruto’s administration.

“A leadership that abets a culture of killings and human rights violations jeopardizes its legitimacy. We cannot be lulled into complacency in the face of such assaults on our shared humanity,” Maraga said in a statement.

He called for the immediate release of all young people detained incommunicado and for accountability and justice for the victims and their families.

Maraga stressed that the time has come for Kenyans to unite and build a society that upholds the rule of law, constitutionalism, and integrity.

“I reiterate my deep condemnation of the continued violence against young Kenyans in the form of the abhorrent acts of killing, maiming, and abduction. These continued crimes are a stain to our collective conscience as a nation, and we are all duty-bound to say #EnoughisEnough, #EndAbductionsNow! We cannot remain silent,” he stated.