David Maraga vs Boniface Mwangi

UGM petitioned Parliament for a state-funded Sh300 billion youth jobs and cash-for-work programme. (low confidence)

Free public services imply a bigger state role. He has not set out a policy on ownership or markets. (low confidence)

Says the tax burden falls on low- and middle-income earners while revenue is lost to graft, and called the government's tax policy 'economic terrorism' (April 2026). (low confidence)

Campaigns on free education, health care and water, plus recovery of stolen public money. (medium confidence)

His 2020 advisory sought to enforce the constitutional rule that no more than two-thirds of Parliament be of one gender. His personal faith (Seventh-day Adventist) is not counted. (medium confidence)

As Chief Justice he led the Supreme Court majority that annulled the August 2017 presidential election, and in September 2020 advised the President to dissolve Parliament for failing to pass the two-thirds gender law. In June 2026 a five-judge High Court bench ruled that advisory premature and procedurally unconstitutional. (high confidence)

Left the bench for opposition politics on a small party outside the main coalitions. As a former head of the Judiciary he is not an outsider in the usual sense. (medium confidence)

An activist outside party politics who says he will campaign door to door and refuse alliances with ethnic power brokers. (medium confidence)

Marched with families of protest victims in July 2025 and was tear-gassed. Arrested on 8 June 2026 at a protest against excising Nairobi National Park land, and refused to leave the police station until the others held were released. (medium confidence)

Years documenting police killings and leading protests. Detained in Tanzania in May 2025, where Amnesty International reports he was tortured. Charged in Kenya in July 2025 with possessing a blank round after terrorism accusations were dropped. He pleaded not guilty. (high confidence)