NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Chief Justice David Maraga has pledged to ensure women occupy half of all leadership positions in his government if elected president, saying Kenya’s future depends on inclusive leadership.
Speaking on Wednesday, Maraga said his administration would embrace gender balance across all levels of decision-making, arguing that men and women bring complementary strengths to governance.
“Men excel in some areas, women excel in others. If you put them together, you have a balanced government,” he said.
Maraga, who served as Chief Justice between 2016 and 2021, said his government would make gender equality a central pillar of public service appointments, fulfilling the spirit of the 2010 Constitution.
He noted that despite the Constitution’s provision that no more than two-thirds of members of any elective or appointive body should be of the same gender, the rule has yet to be fully implemented.
“The Constitution provided for inclusivity and equality, but successive governments have failed to actualise the two-thirds gender principle,” Maraga said.
He recalled his 2020 advisory to then-President Uhuru Kenyatta to dissolve Parliament for failing to pass legislation enforcing the gender rule—a move that triggered heated national debate.
As part of his political platform, Maraga said his party has already adopted a co-leadership model, with every top position jointly held by a man and a woman.
“If there is a chairperson, there will be both a man and a woman. If there is a secretary general, the same will apply. This is how we will ensure equal opportunities for both genders,” he explained.
The former CJ said women have consistently proven strong leadership in sectors such as health, education, and public administration, yet continue to face structural barriers to advancement.
“We must recognise women not just as beneficiaries of inclusion but as partners in shaping Kenya’s governance,” Maraga added.
If elected, he said, his presidency would serve as a “turning point” for gender parity and equitable governance in Kenya.
