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Former Chief Justice David Maraga, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and activists march along Uhuru Highway to lay wreaths along Parliament Road during Gen-Z anniversary protests in Nairobi, on June 25, 2026. [Kanyiri Wahito, Standard]
In politics, like in other fields of life, little things matter. Very simple actions, photo ops, public handshakes and engagements speak volumes – intended or unintended. They are symbols that shout long before they are expressed in speeches. They send powerful messages about alliances, ambitions and shared visions.
The Friday meeting between Chief Justice emeritus David Maraga and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i attracted a huge divided social media commentary. Some approved of it, others criticised the same. The meeting could not fail to attract public scrutiny, especially because of who the two represent in Kenya's history.
No one has the right to choose political friends for Maraga, but to many Kenyans yearning for transformative leadership ahead of the 2027 General Election, a political union between Maraga and Matiang'i is unsettling rather than inspiring. It begs the question: Can Kenya genuinely break from its troubled past if those seeking to lead it continue to embrace figures associated with the very dark past?
