Former Chief Justice David Maraga has arrived at Dulles International Airport in Washington, DC, marking the start of a three-week United States tour as he steps up his political engagements ahead of Kenya’s 2027 General Election. Maraga announced his arrival on Wednesday, September 16, saying the tour would give him an opportunity to meet Kenyans living across several US states and listen to their views on Kenya’s future.

“I have landed at Dulles International Airport, Washington DC, marking the start of my US Tour,” Maraga said in a statement shared on X.

The United Green Movement (UGM) presidential candidate is scheduled to spend nearly three weeks in the US, with engagements planned from September 17 to October 5, 2026. According to the programme released ahead of the trip, Maraga will visit Washington, DC, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Minnesota, Georgia, Houston and Dallas. His first engagements are scheduled in Washington on September 17 and 18, followed by Maryland on September 19. He will then travel to Delaware and New Jersey on September 20 before holding meetings in New York on September 21 and 22. The tour continues in Minnesota from September 23 to 26, Georgia from September 27 to 29, Houston from September 30 to October 3 and Dallas on October 4. He is scheduled to leave the United States for Nairobi on October 5. Maraga has invited Kenyans living in the areas on his itinerary to attend his engagements, share their views and discuss issues affecting the country.

The US visit forms part of Maraga’s campaign activities as he seeks the presidency in the 2027 General Election on the UGM ticket. His campaign has increasingly focused on direct engagement with voters and supporters. Earlier this year, Maraga conducted the Ukatiba Caravan, travelling to 43 counties between February and April to engage Kenyans on governance, constitutionalism and other national issues. Maraga has also described Kenyans living abroad as important participants in Kenya’s political and development affairs, rather than primarily as a source of remittances. His US tour therefore extends his domestic mobilisation programme to the Kenyan diaspora, with the scheduled meetings expected to provide a platform for him to outline his political agenda and hear from Kenyans living abroad.

The itinerary also places Maraga in New York during the period of the United Nations General Assembly, which is scheduled to bring world leaders and international officials to the city. Maraga has indicated that he expects to engage with international leaders during his New York visit, although details of those meetings have not been publicly outlined. His arrival in Washington also comes as other Kenyan political figures step up diaspora engagements ahead of the 2027 election. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who is also seeking the presidency, is currently conducting his own political and diaspora tour in the United States. For Maraga, the Washington arrival marks the beginning of a scheduled 19-day programme across nine US destinations before his planned return to Kenya on October 5.