By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, July 17, 2026 - Former Chief Justice David Maraga has warned that the conduct of the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election should serve as a wake-up call for Kenya, saying the poll exposed challenges that could undermine the credibility of the 2027 General Election if left unaddressed.
In a statement issued after the election, Maraga alleged that incidents of voter intimidation, violence and bribery tainted the electoral process, urging independent institutions to investigate the claims and safeguard the country's democracy.
"Ol Kalou was not a local contest. It is a rehearsal for 2027, and Kenyans must see it as such," Maraga said.
He applauded Ol Kalou residents for what he described as their courage in the face of intimidation.
"I applaud the people of Ol Kalou, who endured intimidation with more courage than the state showed them protection, for standing firm."
The former Chief Justice argued that reports from election observers, journalists and human rights groups pointed to a troubling electoral environment, saying such allegations should not be ignored.
"It is an assault on the sovereign will of the people, carried out in broad daylight and financed, by all credible accounts, with the resources of the very state that is constitutionally bound to protect the ballot."
Maraga, who served as Chief Justice between 2016 and 2021, said his experience in determining presidential election disputes had given him a clear understanding of what constitutes a free and fair election.
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"I have sat as Chief Justice of this Republic and adjudicated on what a free and fair election means. I will not now stand by and watch that standard be quietly buried ahead of the 2027 elections."
He called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate allegations of voter bribery, intimidation and election-related violence, and take action against anyone found culpable.
Maraga also accused security agencies of failing to adequately protect voters and uphold constitutional rights during the by-election.
Despite criticising the conduct of the poll, he congratulated Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru on his victory, saying he had prevailed despite the challenges reported during the election.
Maraga further announced that his campaign would soon launch the #LindaKura initiative, which he said would build on existing court rulings affirming that election results declared at polling stations are final, as part of efforts to strengthen electoral integrity ahead of the 2027 General Election.