Former Kenya Chief Justice Maraga announces US tour as 2027 presidential race takes shape
Former Chief Justice David Maraga has announced plans for a tour of the United States, according to People Daily, as activity around Kenya’s 2027 presidential election begins to intensify.
Maraga, who served as Kenya’s Chief Justice from 2016 to 2021, has emerged as one of the figures positioning himself for the next presidential cycle. His retirement from the judiciary has been followed by increased public political activity, and the planned US tour is widely seen as an effort to engage the Kenyan diaspora and build support networks abroad ahead of the vote.
As People Daily reported, the announcement comes amid a broader field of aspirants jostling for position. President William Ruto, who took office in 2022, is expected to seek a second term, while a number of opposition and former government figures have signalled interest in the race. Early manoeuvring has already begun, with political alliances being tested and new formations taking shape.
Maraga remains best known for leading the Supreme Court ruling that annulled the 2017 presidential election over irregularities in the transmission of results, a decision unprecedented in Kenya’s history and one that cemented his public profile. His tenure also produced a number of other rulings on devolution, the independence of the judiciary and the enforcement of constitutional orders.
The planned US tour adds to a familiar pattern of diaspora-focused engagements by Kenyan politicians, who traditionally use such trips to court voters abroad and to raise funds. Specific details of Maraga’s itinerary and the meetings he intends to hold were not immediately disclosed.
Sources
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