Retired Chief Justice and 2027 presidential candidate David Maraga has unveiled a country-wide civic education initiative dubbed the Ukatiba Caravan, following the collection of Sh7,745,788.04 in campaign contributions. The move comes as part of his effort to engage citizens and build momentum for his presidential bid.

On Thursday, January 29, 2026, Maraga took to his official social media account to thank the 1,834 Kenyans who contributed financially, highlighting the diaspora for their exceptional support of more than Sh6 million, which he said has greatly strengthened the campaign.

“I am deeply grateful to the 1,834 of you who have made a financial contribution to our campaign, with a total of Sh7,745,788.04 so far. I am particularly thankful to the Kenyans in the diaspora who have made a significant contribution of more than Sh6 million, which has boosted our efforts immensely,” Maraga stated.

He explained that the funds would support a transparent and accountable nationwide campaign to increase youth voter registration, under the banner of #GenZ15MillionStrong.

The Ukatiba Caravan will crisscross counties, holding workshops, town hall meetings, and outreach programs to teach citizens about their civic duties and the importance of participating in elections.

Maraga also encouraged Kenyans to continue supporting the campaign through M-Pesa, credit cards, PayPal, and Stripe.

Maraga revealed that his decision to enter politics was shaped by the 2024 Gen Z protests, which he said exposed the harsh treatment of young Kenyans by authorities. Speaking during a previous interview, he recalled the demonstrations as a turning point.

“I had never aspired to be a politician. We can’t all be politicians; some people have to do other things. But what I saw last year shocked me: young people being shot like rats. As a country, I couldn’t believe we could allow that,” said Maraga.

He noted that the protests were sparked by grievances over the Finance Bill, yet instead of engaging with the youth, the authorities responded with excessive force, a situation that inspired him to launch the Ukatiba Caravan.

Maraga’s entry is set to inject a fresh dynamic into the upcoming polls, potentially reshaping alliances and campaign strategies. His past role as Chief Justice, where he famously nullified the 2017 presidential election results, has cemented his image as a figure committed to constitutionalism and the rule of law. Political analysts are already weighing the implications of his candidacy, with many pointing to his clean public record as a potential advantage. “Maraga’s integrity is his strongest asset,” noted a political science lecturer at the University of Nairobi who spoke to Julisha.co.ke

“He represents a departure from traditional political figures, which could resonate with a segment of the electorate yearning for change.”

Speaking recently during an interview, Maraga framed his campaign as a moral fight against corruption and lawlessness, citing concerns over police brutality against youth protesters.

“We can’t let some people literally throw our country to the dogs. It is time we reset Kenya back to constitutionalism.”

On his transition from judicial service to politics, Maraga said his decision to enter politics was not immediate but came after encouragement from citizens and extensive consultations with his family and friends.

“The conversation was about what is happening in the country. Several people talked about that. Somebody asked me whether or not I had thought of a political seat. I said, No. They said, ‘Look, you had better begin thinking.’ I said, I’ve never been a politician… I understand that if you need to contest the presidential position, you need at least 10 billion. I told them, ‘Look, forget about that. This can’t go on.’ After consultation with my family, with friends, and prayerfully reflecting on the issue, I decided to put in my bid,” he said.

Maraga dismissed the notion that lacking political experience would disadvantage him, arguing that Kenya needs principled leadership over political experience.

“With the crises that are ongoing in the country, we need to reset back to constitutionalism, to the rule of law. We need impunity to be dealt with squarely in this country. We need to restore the dignity of our people. You can’t have people being killed the way we are seeing,” he said.

“We can’t have people suffering and some of them dying from simple ailments that can be treated. We can’t afford to have our children sitting at home because there’s no funding for their education. You lose a generation of such young people.”

On the country’s economic challenges, he said Kenya’s worsening situation stems from poor governance.

“I’m sure you’re aware that several corporations have shut down in Kenya and gone to other countries. Some of them have downsized their operations. All this is because of poor management of our affairs. So we need to think seriously about that and change what we can do,” he added.

Maraga insisted he is the right person to lead the country, citing his experience in the judiciary where he resisted pressure from government forces.

“I believe I’m the person who can do it. Why? Because I have experience. I’ve experienced how the government sometimes operates. They would want to intimidate you not to do what you’re supposed to do. I saw that a lot when I was in the judiciary, and I stood firm. When you stand firm, sometimes you confuse them; they don’t know what to do with you,” he said.

He pledged to focus on leadership, bringing in experts to run various sectors, saying, “I’m not an expert in everything. I’m a lawyer. What I want to offer Kenyans is leadership. I will be like a captain, get competent people in various positions in government, give them the confidence to work, authorise them to do their work, and demand results,” .