Former Chief Justice David Maraga has dismissed calls for him to confine his presidential campaigns to his Kisii backyard, insisting that his political base is the entire country.
Speaking during an interview on KTN News on Sunday night, Maraga described the push for him to consolidate support in Kisii and Nyamira as “tribal pronouncements” that have long undermined Kenya’s democracy.
“This ethnic balkanisation is what is creating huge problems. People are being elected on the basis of their ethnicity, while critical issues like quality, competency, or development agenda are overlooked,” Maraga said.
He stressed that Kenya had reached a critical point where voters must move away from tribal politics and instead embrace leaders based on merit, integrity, and proven track records. According to the former CJ, tribal alignments have cost the nation visionary leaders who could have propelled the country forward.
“A time has come, and I call it a critical juncture in the history of our country, that we cannot have this anymore. Let us elect people based on their competence to serve the whole nation,” he stated.
Maraga, who hails from the Kisii community, acknowledged his roots but emphasized that no single community can secure a presidential victory. “If I’m elected, I come from the Kisii community, but the Kisii community alone cannot elect me to the presidency. I will need the support of the whole country,” he noted.
Since announcing his presidential ambitions, Maraga has faced resistance from some local leaders who have urged him to support his tribesman, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i. The ex-CS, who quit his World Bank job in Latin America to join the race, is closely associated with the opposition and is backed by Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka as well as elements within former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party.
Maraga, however, insists that his campaign will be issue-based and pan-Kenyan, focusing on uniting citizens beyond ethnic lines. He expressed confidence that most Kenyans are ready for this shift, signaling a battle of ideologies as the race to succeed President William Ruto gathers momentum.
