By Obinna Tv Studio | Nairobi, Kenya | November 24, 2025
Former Kenyan Chief Justice David Maraga whose gavel once reshaped Kenya’s democracy, traded his judicial robes for the unscripted spotlight of Obinna Show Live on Monday evening. In a wide-ranging interview with host Oga Obinna, the 74-year-old opened up about his disciplined dawn routine, landmark rulings, and a surprise presidential bid spurred by Gen Z fury – while firing pointed critiques at President William Ruto’s administration.
Maraga’s day begins at 5 a.m., a habit forged in his stewardship of the Supreme Court. “It’s prayer, reflection, and readiness,” he told Oga Obinna, underscoring the discipline that defined his tenure. But it was his defining moment in 2017 – annulling President Uhuru Kenyatta’s reelection amid fraud allegations – that cements his legacy. “That ruling restored public faith in the judiciary,” Maraga said. “It proved the Constitution isn’t just words on paper; it’s a shield for the people.”
The conversation pivoted to politics, where Maraga revealed the youth-led protests earlier this year as his catalyst. “Gen Z’s cries over jobs and justice pushed me to vie for the presidency,” he explained. “As an elder, I can’t sit idle while our youth bleed for change.” He pledged flexibility in alliances – “I can support other candidates” – but drew a red line at Ruto. “Not him. His legacy is too stained by broken promises.”
With by-elections looming, Maraga zeroed in on Mbeere North as a barometer for Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s clout. “It’s a litmus test,” he warned. “Will the ruling coalition hold, or crack under pressure?” On the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), his message was blunt: “They’d better do a good job. Every Kenyan’s eyes are on them—no room for slip-ups.”
Environmental lapses drew Maraga’s anger next. Slamming recent tree-logging drives, he charged: “No conservationists were consulted. Zero public participation. That’s not governance; it’s arrogance.”
Laying out his economic vision, Maraga targeted youth empowerment through intellectual property reforms – “a way to help young innovators own their ideas” – and tighter regulations on manufacturers to protect workers. Corruption, he vowed, would face an unrelenting purge. “Taxation is imperative, but we need a fair regime that eases the load on families,” he added, proposing an unemployment fund to plug job voids with redirected revenues.
Maraga’s regional gaze turned to Tanzania’s contested polls, where he decried constitutional roadblocks. “Their laws don’t allow challenges – that’s the hindrance,” he said. “Kenyans want free and fair elections for our neighbors too.” On Uganda’s audacious claims to Indian Ocean access, he was unequivocal: “That can’t be allowed. Sovereignty is non-negotiable. If we blur boundaries for one, it’s total war for all.”
The evening’s exchange with Obinna’s signature levity, positions Maraga as a wildcard in the 2027 race.
