Havi pledges to drop presidential bid in favour of Maraga

By Peter Ochieng

Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Nelson Havi has pledged to drop his presidential ambitions, if former Chief Justice David Maraga declares his bid.

Havi declared his 2027 presidential bid during an interview on Citizen TV on Monday, but now says he will have to stand down if Maraga joins the race to State House.

Besides him, he said, Maraga is the only man who can simplify the office of the President.

“Let us simplify the office of President of the Republic of Kenya as did the People of Uruguay under José Mujica. CJ David Maraga is the simple, forthright and just old man needed for the transition. If he accepts, I will drop my bid and travel all over Kenya to campaign for him,” Havi noted.

Maraga retired in 2021, having served as Kenya’s 14th CJ from 2016. In 2017, joined by Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu and associate justices Isaac Lenaola and Dr Smokin Wanjala, Maraga made history by nullifying the August 2017 presidential election because of illegalities and irregularities that were presented by the petitioners.

Uhuru Kenyatta had been declared winner of the presidential contest, with the nullification setting the state for a repeat election, which Kenyatta easily won.

"The greatness of any nation lies in its fidelity to the Constitution and adherence to the rule of law and, above all, respect to God,” Maraga declared while nullifying the presidential elections.

On 21 September 2020, Maraga issued an advisory calling on the President Kenyatta to dissolve Kenya's Parliament, owing to the failure by Parliament to enact legislation which would give effect to a provision in Kenya's Constitution that requires gender quotas in all public bodies.

He has not given any indication that he will join the presidential race, against President William Ruto as alignments and realignments take center stage ahead of the 2027 polls.