NAIROBI, Kenya — Presidential hopeful and former Chief Justice David Maraga will travel to Gaborone, Botswana, from October 7 to 10 to attend the annual Southern and Eastern Africa Chief Justices Forum, where he is expected to deliver remarks on behalf of the African Judges and Jurists Forum, his campaign team announced Tuesday.
During the trip, Maraga, who is co-leader and flagbearer of the United Green Movement (UGM), will also hold a series of bilateral meetings, including engagements with Kenyan diaspora communities in Botswana.
The announcement comes just days after Maraga concluded a high-profile political tour across Homa Bay, Kisumu, and Siaya counties, where he advanced his public agenda of constitutional reform, anti-corruption, and inclusive governance.
Maraga, who served as Chief Justice until January 2021, has largely been viewed as a nonpartisan institution builder.
In recent months, however, his increasing public appearances and pointed critiques of governance have fanned speculation about his ambitions for electoral office.
By participating in the regional judicial forum, Maraga aims to consolidate his credentials as a legal luminary who bridges national and continental justice discourses.
Following an extremely successful campaign for our @UGMParty candidate, Dr. Benson Obol Otieno in Ugunja, Siaya, I will in Botswana for official functions for the rest of the week.
His speech to the African Judges and Jurists Forum is anticipated to touch on judicial independence, constitutionalism, and reforms.
The diaspora engagements suggest a strategic effort to solidify support among Kenyans abroad, potentially mobilizing networks and funding ahead of the next elections.
Moreover, the trip allows Maraga to project both a regional and global profile, a contrast to many domestic politicians whose visibility is largely confined to localized bases.
Maraga’s re-emergence into the political limelight is not without risks. While his judicial reputation provides moral capital, transitioning from jurist to politician demands campaigning, coalition building, resource mobilization, and messaging beyond constitutional rhetoric.
Analysts have questioned whether a figure used to operating within legal frameworks can quickly adapt to party politics.
Additionally, age and public appeal remain hurdles. Political mentor Fred Matiang’i and others from Maraga’s home region may also compete for the same voter base.
That said, his stature in the judiciary affords him a distinct platform: by positioning himself as a reformer, he can appeal to voters disenchanted with the political status quo without being boxed into traditional party machines.
Maraga’s foray into Botswana is thus more than a courtesy visit; it is a carefully timed move in what appears to be an unfolding political strategy.
Whether the trip will elevate his profile or expose vulnerabilities remains to be seen, but it comes at a moment when the Kenyan political scene appears more receptive than ever to voices invoking independence, integrity, and systemic reform.
