Maraga taps creative industry with social media poster challenge
By Faith Lagat, August 10, 2025Former Chief Justice David Maraga has launched an innovative social media poster challenge, engaging Kenya’s vibrant creative industry as a cornerstone of his 2027 presidential campaign.
Announced on August 10, 2025, on his X, the initiative reflects his commitment to a people-driven movement, leveraging the talents of young artists to shape his political narrative.
Maraga, who served as Chief Justice from 2016 to 2021, said the challenge was inspired by young creatives who proposed giving his social media accounts a presidential brand through competitive design engagement. He framed the contest as part of a broader economic and social agenda in which the arts will play a central role.
“In the beginning of my campaign, I said this will be a people-driven campaign. Since then, you have owned this journey in ways only you could initiate. The creative industry forms a key pillar of my economic agenda. The work of artists must occupy a central place in rebuilding our industries and restoring our frayed humanity,” he said in a post on X.
The winning design will be determined by the number of likes it garners online.
Mixed reception in Nyamira
The announcement comes just days after Maraga faced a hostile reception at the burial of Catherine Moraa in Nyamira County on August 8. Despite his landmark decision to annul the 2017 presidential election, some locals jeered at him during the event.
Youth activist Morara Kebaso, commenting on the incident, said, “These are the voters that will vote in 2027. They don’t care. They don’t want it. They are not worth dying for. Tata Maraga, you served your country well. You deserve a peaceful retirement with honour; stop bothering these people, let them elect whatever they want, and suffer the consequences.”
Kebaso, who recently quit politics, added that his personal life had improved since leaving the political scene. “I have added 5 kgs of weight and am on track to be the youngest Kenyan on the Forbes list. How? I went back home to the people who love me.”
Standing firm on reform
Undeterred by the incident, Maraga has continued to speak out against corruption and entrenched political interests. On August 8, he criticised the newly formed UDA-ODM bipartisan committee, saying, “No one is blind to the fact that nothing changes because the same sludge of systemic rot that benefits the few stays in place.”
He has also left the door open to alliances, with Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah indicating a willingness to work with him. “If Maraga’s agenda and mine are the same, there is no reason why we should run from different sides,” Omtatah said, stressing shared commitments to the rule of law.
Blending art and activism
As the 2027 campaign season gathers momentum, Maraga’s poster challenge could mark a new approach to political engagement by fusing artistic expression with grassroots activism. His bid seeks to harness public creativity not only for campaign branding but also to spark wider conversations on governance and national identity.