The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party youth league member, Kasmuel McOure, has dismissed former Chief Justice David Maraga’s potential presidential bid, arguing that his opportunity to demonstrate his leadership capabilities has already passed.
Speaking on Citizen TV’s Daybreak show on Friday, McOure was critical of Maraga’s tenure as Chief Justice, particularly his handling of the 2017 presidential election annulment. While Maraga made history as the first Chief Justice in Kenya to nullify a presidential election, McOure faulted him for subsequently accepting what he described as a “sham” repeat election.
“I cannot trust him with the presidency because he has already been given a chance to prove himself and did not take it. All he did was annul an election and accept a sham election afterward,” McOure asserted.
Beyond the election ruling, McOure also criticized Maraga for failing to push for Parliament’s dissolution when it did not implement the two-thirds gender rule. In his view, Maraga’s reluctance to follow through on this matter revealed a lack of commitment to enforcing constitutional provisions. “He presided over the Judiciary when the legislative arm was unconstitutional; he only wrote an advisory and did not push it to the end. It means that whoever occupies the seat is not the problem,” he said.
McOure emphasized that Kenya’s progress depends on systemic change rather than mere political rhetoric. “He’s now getting into the political waters when he’ll come to realize that it is not enough to pay lip service. We’ll need a person who will drive a vehicle that will lead us to a systemic change,” he stated.
Maraga, speaking at the People’s Dialogue Festival on Thursday, March 6, positioned himself as a champion of the rule of law. He asserted that if elected president, he would prioritize ensuring every Kenyan abides by the law, arguing that defiance of legal frameworks is the root of the country’s problems.
“If I were to be given the privilege to govern this country, I would get everybody to obey the law; the moment you are obeying the law, everything will fall into place,” Maraga said.
He further argued that adherence to the law would resolve issues such as financial mismanagement and the diversion of public funds. However, McOure’s remarks highlight a skepticism within certain political circles about Maraga’s capacity to transition from judicial leadership to political governance.
