NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Chief Justice David Maraga slammed President William Ruto, declaring the Head of State has “lost legitimacy to rule” and should resign honorably before dragging the country further into chaos.
“If the President is truly listening to the citizens, the honorable thing to do is resign,” Maraga said during an explosive interview on Citizen TV. “Instead of doing that, he is hiring goons to be used by the police, which is a very dangerous path.”
This latest salvo from Maraga comes as part of a growing narrative he’s been building over the past several weeks—a narrative that paints Ruto’s administration as increasingly authoritarian, detached from public sentiment, and reckless in its handling of youth-led protests.
“What I saw was police officers marching with hired goons side by side,” Maraga previously said, rejecting claims by Ruto that recent Gen Z protests were attempted coups. “How do you terrorize the country with bare hands?”
Maraga, who made history by nullifying a presidential election in 2017, isn’t mincing words. He’s accused the government of “weaponizing the justice system” against peaceful demonstrators and “criminalizing dissent” by labeling frustrated youth as terrorists.
His pointed rebuke follows the killings of dozens of unarmed protesters—many of them in their teens and early 20s—during the recent Gen Z led protests.
He also criticized Ruto’s controversial “shoot-to-maim” directive—telling police to aim at protesters’ legs—as well as Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen and Kithure Kindiki for endorsing the use of lethal force.
“The President and Interior CS have no power to order the shooting of people. They are supposed to be protecting them. Are we being told police are helpless—that they can’t arrest young people peacefully?” he asked.
To Maraga, the root of the unrest is clear: broken governance and failed leadership. The youth, he argued, are not criminals or terrorists. They’re disillusioned citizens with real grievances—from a ballooning cost of living and joblessness to eroding public trust in institutions.
“What did these young people do? Express their outrage,” he said. “Why are they in the streets? Because nobody cares about their interests.”
He went even further, calling out Parliament for being “captured” and incapable of holding the Executive accountable. “If Parliament were doing its job, the President would not be in office today,” he said. “The shortest route is for the President to resign. If not, Parliament is supposed to impeach him—but they won’t.”
Maraga, who has declared his presidential ambition for 2027, says his mission is to restore the rule of law and rebuild public trust. He’s hinted at forming a coalition of parties aligned with his values—emphasizing constitutionalism, dignity, and leadership grounded in service, not fear.
“If I were in State House and young people were marching to it, I’d walk out and ask them what they want. I would talk to them,” he said, contrasting his approach with the current administration’s hardline stance.
His message to Gen Z? You’re not alone. Your voices are valid. And come 2027, change is on the ballot.
