What David Maraga should do, not do if he wants to become president

Kenya’s Retired Chief Justice David Maraga has emerged as a potential candidate for the presidency in 2027. While his candidacy may position him as a fringe contender, it is worth noting that any individual who effectively presents themselves well can ascend to the presidency in the current political climate.

Currently, the most significant chunk of voters are millennials and Gen Zs. Their political behaviour, drawing from their social behaviour, differs from the politics of the former generations.

This generation can make anyone their leader—it is a trend that can be observed from their ability to make anyone they want in their generation a celebrity, regardless of their background, provided the person can “vibe” with them. Just like that!

Therefore, the ‘vote power’ in 2027 is in the hands of a generation that cannot be influenced by tribal politics, displays of wealth, and the dominance of the “big man” narrative. Do emerging leaders stand a chance? Yes, in the hands of this new generation is the possibility of anyone becoming president, provided they “vibe” with their interests.

Mr Maraga stands a chance of becoming the President of this country at a time when the voting pattern has changed.

However, Maraga’s approach reveals a significant weakness. First, his primary focus on the failure of the current regime to follow the rule of law as Kenya’s central issue oversimplifies the complexities of the country’s woes.

By reducing the nation's multifaceted problems to a failure to obey the law, he risks being perceived as disconnected from the broader governance dynamics, simply because he is a lawyer.

The presidency is inherently a political office, requiring a nuanced understanding of leadership that addresses the everyday concerns of the common mwananchi—such issues are not reducible to issues that can be solely solved in the corridors of legal justice.

Furthermore, Maraga’s emphasis on legal adherence may resonate with the elite, whose interests align with matters of law. Yet, this focus alienates the masses, whose priorities revolve around basic needs and tangible improvements in their daily lives.

Unless he breaks the matters down to resonate with the ordinary citizen, it will not yield anything for him. So, to gain traction among ordinary citizens, Maraga must craft a strategy that speaks directly to their concerns rather than relying on rhetoric that appeals to the elites.

Secondly, Maraga’s political entry is also marked by a stern criticism of the current regime’s shortcomings. While identifying gaps in governance is a valid starting point, it is insufficient to distinguish oneself as an alternative.

In politics, criticism alone does not inspire confidence among the people; articulating actionable solutions sets a leader apart.

The weaknesses of the William Ruto administration—such as unfulfilled promises and corruption—are well-documented. Highlighting these flaws without presenting a compelling vision risks relegating Maraga to the role of a critic rather than a transformative leader.

For Maraga and other leaders aspiring to challenge the current regime, candidates must mirror the electorate's aspirations and position themselves as the embodiment of solutions to the prevailing challenges.

Activism and criticism, while valuable in their own right, do not inherently give aspiring presidents an advantage. To secure the presidency, David Maraga must pivot from pointing out deficiencies to offering a robust and inclusive plan that addresses the needs of ordinary Kenyans.

While criticising Ruto’s government, he must learn what made Kenyans prefer UDA’s team over Azimio in 2022. The Ruto team presented themselves as solutions to people’s problems.

Whether they have kept their promises is another issue. Their strategy and tactics won the hearts of the people, and people believed that they would keep their promises.

However, their strategy worked, and it would work for any person aspiring to be president of the Republic of Kenya.

The gist of the matter is this: If the former chief justice wants to be president, he must not duplicate what any other government critic is doing.