Former CJ Maraga settles on UGM party ticket for 2027 presidential race

Former Chief Justice David Maraga has now settled on the United Green Movement (UGM) party in his bid to offer alternative leadership in the country ahead of the 2027 polls.

This followed a Founding Members Forum held in Nairobi by the party delegates on Thursday to preselect a suitable presidential candidate.

Maraga stated it took him time scouting around for which party with values and ideals aligned with his, as he plans to face off with President William Ruto in the next elections. 

The former Chief Justice accepted being crowned founding party leader and presidential flagbearer for the 2027 showdown.

Maraga said if elected the sixth president of the Republic of Kenya, his leadership and governance would be centred and premised on the rule of law and constitutionalism to catapult the country forward.

"I wish to thank the founding members of the party for admitting me into the forum of the National Executive Committee of the party. It's an honour I don't take for granted," he stated. 

He expressed optimism that going forward, he will traverse the country to popularize the UGM party with the hope of winning several seats in the August House and County Assemblies from across the country.

Maraga, together with his team, asserted that they would reset the governance system to work for everyone if they win the presidential elections, citing the current situation in different sectors in the country that he says have failed terribly.

His sentiments were echoed by party founder and former Ndhiwa lawmaker Agostinho Neto, who noted that the 2027 elections would be a liberation exercise to save the country.

"The forum is mandated by the UGM party constitution to act as an electoral college to preselect the presidential flag bearers of the party. It is with that regard that the founding members' forum preselected you (Maraga) as the flagbearer pending approval of the National Delegates Conference in early 2027," Neto remarked. 

"The flagbearer position is a very difficult task; it requires you to move across the country, meeting delegates, because ultimately in 2027, the delegates of various branches will cast their votes to nominate you as the presidential candidate of the party."

He added: "I'd urge you to move across the country, excite the delegates in a way that makes them agree that the forum made the right decision in preselecting you as the candidate."