Former Chief Justice David Maraga has blamed Kenya’s persistent poverty on an extractive system that prioritises people in power over ordinary citizens, arguing that the country’s economic challenges go beyond a lack of money.
In a statement posted on X on November 2, 2026, Maraga, who is seeking the presidency in 2027, said the country could take a different direction through leadership guided by integrity, discipline, respect for the rule of law and prudent management of public resources.
“We are not poor because we lack money. We are poor because we have embraced an extractive system that is designed to serve those in power before it serves citizens,” Maraga stated.
Maraga also linked the country’s economic difficulties to corruption and wastage of public resources. In a separate post, he wrote: “We are not a poor country!!! But bad leadership, mega corruption scandals like these two and wastage of resources has pushed Kenyans to their knees.”
The former Chief Justice’s remarks come as he continues to criticise President William Ruto over the failure to reconstitute the Cabinet in line with the constitutional two-thirds gender rule.
The High Court had given the President 120 days to ensure that at least nine women were appointed to the 25-member Cabinet, with the deadline expiring on October 28, 2026.
Maraga questioned the failure to meet the deadline, saying compliance with court orders and the Constitution should guide decisions made by the government.
“Compliance with the Constitution is not optional; it is the ultimate metric of a functioning democracy,” he stated.
He also criticised Attorney General Dorcas Oduor for seeking a stay of the judgment shortly before the deadline. The Court of Appeal declined to treat the application as urgent.
“A court order remains fully active, alive, and binding unless and until a higher court explicitly stays it,” Maraga emphasised.
He warned that government decisions, policies and expenditure made after the deadline could face legal challenges, including possible contempt proceedings against the Attorney General.
Maraga further linked the Cabinet dispute to what he described as wider concerns about adherence to constitutional procedures.
He cited a separate High Court ruling that declared the President’s roadside announcements on affordable housing allocations unconstitutional. He also questioned plans to spend more than Ksh1 billion on the opening of the Raila Odinga International Stadium without parliamentary approval.
The former Chief Justice questioned why the President would appeal a ruling requiring the inclusion of women in the Cabinet, arguing that Kenya has qualified women who can serve in government.
Maraga, who served as Chief Justice between 2016 and 2021, is the co-party leader of the United Green Movement (UGM).
He has called on Ruto to reconstitute the Cabinet in line with the court directive or resign if he cannot comply.
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