NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Chief Justice David Maraga has formally joined the United Green Movement (UGM) as its founding party leader and presidential flagbearer ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Maraga, who retired from the Judiciary in 2021, was unveiled by UGM delegates during a Founding Members Forum in Nairobi on Thursday.
The meeting acted as an electoral college to preselect a presidential candidate to challenge President William Ruto in the next polls.
The former CJ said it took him considerable time to identify a party whose values aligned with his own, adding that his decision was guided by a desire to champion constitutionalism and the rule of law in governance.
“If elected the sixth President of the Republic of Kenya, my leadership will be centred on the rule of law and constitutionalism to propel this country forward,” Maraga said after being endorsed. “I wish to thank the founding members of the party for admitting me into the National Executive Committee. It is an honour I do not take for granted.”
I am honored to join the United Green Movement, one of the few Political Parties whose ideology and values align with my Ukatiba philosophy.We now embark on campaigning for our candidates for the by-elections, advocating for registration of voters, including those in the
He pledged to embark on a nationwide campaign to popularize UGM, with a goal of securing representation in both Parliament and county assemblies.
Maraga also criticized the state of governance in key sectors, promising to reset the system “to work for everyone” if elected.
UGM founder and former Ndhiwa MP Agostinho Neto said Maraga’s selection marked the beginning of what the party termed a liberation push in 2027.
“The founding members’ forum has preselected you as the party’s flagbearer, pending approval by the National Delegates Conference in early 2027,” Neto said. “The role ahead is challenging, but we trust you to crisscross the country, energize delegates, and prove that this forum made the right choice.”
Maraga’s entry into elective politics sets the stage for a fresh contest in 2027, pitting him against established political heavyweights as he seeks to translate his judicial legacy into a national leadership bid.
