Chief Justice David Maraga has revealed that he used to be a drunkard in his past life.
Speaking at a recent graduation ceremony, the CJ stated that while in high school, he slipped spiritually and was introduced to alcohol drinking by bad company.
He further disclosed that he was marred in the confusion for 20 years of his life and would often ignore his family completely.
At that time, he continued, he did not bother to advance his professional career until 34 years later when he contemplated undertaking a masters degree.
He also revealed that he came from a poor background going to school barefoot and only wearing shoes for the first time while joining high school because it was mandatory. He also wore his first pair of shorts while 10 years old when he was circumcised.
Maraga, however, revealed that his secret weapon turned to be God attributing his success to this change in behaviour and being more spiritual.
He is a staunch Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) follower who dropped his friends after realizing that the church did not allow him to take or give alcohol. The friends had also started mocking him.
The CJ had vowed not to compromise his Sabbath Day even when his role as the Chief Justice of Kenya demands him to.
“It would be very difficult for me to sit on a Saturday to hear a case. I would rather talk with my colleagues in the court to accommodate me and exempt me from sitting if the hearing extends to a Saturday,” Maraga told the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) while being interviewed for the CJ Job.
The Supreme Court was on Saturday August 26, 2017, forced to commence hearing on a crucial time-strapped NASA petition at 7 pm so as the Chief Justice could attend church service during the day.
Maraga started his law career at different law firms including being a judge at the Nakuru Agricultural Show Trade Stands from 1985 to 1990 and as an overall advocate in Nakuru.
After working in private firms for a while, Maraga was appointed to be a High Court judge in 2003 by former president Mwai Kibaki where he worked his way to the Chief Justice job he holds today.
