NAIROBI — Mumias East MP Peter Salasya has announced he would appoint former Chief Justice David Maraga as Attorney General if he wins Kenya’s presidency in 2027.
Salasya made the pledge in a post on his X account, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday. He praised Maraga’s “moral uprightness and service to justice,” calling the retired judge a “man of integrity.”
“I will nominate Maraga as my Attorney General,” Salasya wrote. “In his career, he demonstrated high moral character and compliance with ethical standards.”
His announcement follows closely on the heels of Maraga’s own surprise move: declaring his interest in running for president. The development has added a new twist to Kenya’s political scene ahead of what’s shaping up to be a competitive election.
Maraga, who led Kenya’s judiciary between 2016 and 2021, is most remembered for his bold decision to nullify the 2017 presidential election. That ruling, which voided the re-election of then-President Uhuru Kenyatta, earned him praise at home and abroad for defending the rule of law.
Despite expressing support for Maraga, Salasya remains in the race himself. The young MP has been a vocal critic of President William Ruto’s administration and hopes to unseat him in the upcoming polls.
But for now, Salasya says his campaign is on pause. In an Instagram update earlier this week, he announced he was halting all political activities until the truth behind the murder of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang’ is revealed.
“I will only return to the campaign trail once the real killers of Albert Ojwang’ are exposed,” he said. “Kenyans deserve answers.”
He gave authorities a one-week deadline to act, saying the matter must be settled before he resumes his “vote-hunting mission.”
With two prominent figures now signalling presidential ambitions — and one expressing willingness to work under the other — the 2027 race is already showing signs of being unpredictable and deeply personal.
Both Salasya and Maraga have framed their bids as part of a broader mission to restore trust in leadership and tackle issues like corruption and injustice. It remains to be seen whether their apparent admiration for each other will turn into a political alliance, or if the campaign trail will split them apart.
