Maraga’S Party Fires Back At Sexual Harassment Allegations, Calls Staffer’S Claims “Malicious And Dishonest”
img_tag = ("Former Chief Justice David Maraga's United Green Movement Party finds itself in the eye of a storm after dismissing sexual harassment allegations as "malicious lies" – a response that has Kenyans questioning whether our political parties are ready to protect women in their ranks.
The UGM Party releases a strongly-worded statement on Wednesday defending its handling of sexual harassment claims made by former campaign staffer Shakira Wafula. The party flatly rejects Wafula's allegations, calling them "dishonest" and insisting they followed proper procedures when the matter was first reported.
This drama unfolds as Kenyan women increasingly speak out against workplace harassment across all sectors – from corporate boardrooms in Westlands to county government offices upcountry. Wafula's decision to go public mirrors a growing trend where victims bypass internal complaint systems they view as toothless, instead taking their stories directly to social media and traditional media.
The timing couldn't be more awkward for Maraga's political ambitions. The former Chief Justice built his reputation on judicial integrity and moral authority during his Supreme Court tenure. Now his party faces the kind of scandal that can sink political movements before they even get their feet wet in Kenya's unforgiving political arena.
For ordinary Kenyans watching this unfold on their phones during the evening commute in matatus or while queuing for services at Huduma Centres, the UGM's response feels frustratingly familiar. Too many institutions – from churches to corporations to government offices – still default to denial mode when harassment allegations surface, leaving victims to fight alone.
The party's defensive stance raises uncomfortable questions about whether Kenya's political movements are creating safe spaces for women or simply paying lip service to gender equality when it suits their campaign messaging.
As this story develops, one question lingers: will UGM's handling of these allegations become a template for how Maraga's leadership deals with uncomfortable truths, or will the party find a way to rebuild trust with the very women voters it needs to succeed?