Retired Chief Justice David Kenani Maraga is by far the most straightforward Kenyan lawyer and jurist. He is on record for confessing a clean legacy against bribes. Initially, a party monster, the alcoholic David Maraga eventually recalled his Christian faith.
Lawyers are often vulnerable to bribes and favouritism but that was not the case for CJ Maraga. Even so, he was formerly a victim of peer pressure at its worst.
20 years of the alcoholic David Maraga
In 2019, retired CJ Maraga spoke about his struggles with alcoholism for at least two decades.
Maraga who had been invited to launch a Drug Awareness Campaign at JKUAT used the platform to share part of his emotional story.
“I was baptised on October 30, 1965, when I was still in primary school but I got into bad company in high school. I started drinking even on credit.”
Retired CJ David Maraga.
Maraga who started schooling at Sironga DEB Primary school lost it between his years at Maranda High for O-Levels and Kisii High School for A-Levels.
While at Kisii High, he often sneaked to the nearby village on the slopes of Kionganyo Hill for a drinking spree.
By the time he was joining the University of Nairobi in 1974, alcoholism had become a part of his lifestyle.
Maraga remained a terrible drunkard throughout his undergraduate and postgraduate years at UoN and the Kenya School of Law.
“For more than 20 years, I mark-timed except in providing basic necessities. I would go home at 3am and ask for dinner. My wife would ask me if it was really dinner or breakfast I was asking for. I would not have been Chief Justice if I had not given my life to Jesus Christ.”
Retired CJ David Maraga.
The elderly legal expert is convinced that alcohol is a major root cause of psychological breakdown, poverty, emotional distress, suicidal tendencies, declining academic performance, and decaying morals in society.
Maraga’s recovery from Alcoholism
David Kenani Maraga remained a drunkard until the late 90s when he recalled his childhood Seventh Day Adventist faith.
In his speech, Maraga admitted alcoholism is a snare that would have prevented him from becoming a Chief Justice.
The once Alcoholic David Maraga says that it is our responsibility to enlighten youths on the dangers of liquor. Also in his prescription is Divine intervention for a speedy recovery from all forms of addiction.
