Former Chief Justice David Maraga has criticised the administration of President William Ruto, declaring that Kenya deserves better than the current leadership is providing.

In a series of posts on X on January 22, 2026, Maraga, the presidential flag bearer for the United Green Movement (UGM), expressed dissatisfaction with the state of the nation while leading youth empowerment initiatives in Kisumu.

Critique of current leadership

Maraga used the UGM Young Aspirants Training in Kisumu to call for a reset in governance. “We have a beautiful country, with very hard-working people. We deserve better than what the Ruto regime is offering,” he posted.

Maraga highlighted the extreme economic inequality in the country, pointing out that a tiny fraction of the population controls a disproportionate share of wealth.

“It is not right that 125 people own more than the equivalent of what 42 million of us own. We must reset our country to make it work for all of us,” he said, emphasising the need for systemic reforms to ensure that national resources benefit all Kenyans rather than a privileged few.

Maraga framed UGM’s vision as focusing on anti-corruption, fiscal responsibility, and channelling resources toward public goods such as education, healthcare, youth, and innovation, stating, “This county has a lot of wealth. As UGM, we will end the corruption and channel this money to education, healthcare, youth and innovation. We will not need to borrow.”

Youth empowerment and leadership training

Maraga has emphasised mentoring young Kenyans for leadership ahead of the 2027 elections. On January 21, 2026, he said, “I’m excited to be in Kisumu over the next few days to lead the UGM Party Young Aspirants Training. The United Green Movement believes in our young people, not just as participants, but as leaders. You are the future of our Republic and our strongest hope for restoring order, integrity and constitutionalism through #Ukatiba. The work begins now.”

The training is designed to prepare aspiring candidates for positions such as governor, senator, MP, and MCA, while also developing a National Campaign Accountability Charter to promote transparent politics.

Maraga’s critique extends to governance failures, including the handling of youth protests. He has previously argued that President Ruto lost legitimacy by authorising force against demonstrators during the June 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests.