NAIROBI, Kenya – Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma has raised concerns over former Chief Justice David Maraga’s decision to appear in court in support of civic activist Rose Njeri, saying the move could cast a shadow over the retired judge’s legacy.
Maraga appeared at the Milimani Law Courts on May 3 alongside a team of high-profile lawyers—including Senior Counsel John Khaminwa and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka—to back Njeri, who was released on a Sh100,000 personal bond pending a ruling on whether she will be formally charged.
Njeri faces accusations of unauthorised interference with computer systems, an offence under Section 16 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act. Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo is set to rule on June 20 whether the activist will take a plea.
In court, Maraga sharply criticised the police for arresting Njeri on Friday, May 30—just ahead of a long weekend that included a public holiday—arguing that the move was a deliberate attempt to punish her through extended detention.
“The police didn’t need to arrest her; they just needed to call and inform her they intended to prefer charges,” Maraga told the court. “Being arrested on a Friday, knowing very well that Monday was a public holiday, was just meant to torture her. We pray, Your Honour, that you release her forthwith.”
While Maraga’s intervention was widely praised by Njeri’s supporters, Kaluma said on Wednesday that the former Chief Justice’s presence in the courtroom could be seen as politicizing the judiciary and affecting public perceptions of his past role.
“Justice Maraga is highly respected, and rightly so,” Kaluma said in a statement. “But his direct involvement in politically sensitive cases risks eroding the neutrality that defined his time at the helm of the judiciary.”
Who is pushing @dkmaraga, the greatest Chief Justice Africa has ever had to represent ordinary criminals before Magistrates Courts! As I said, we must find a way of making retired heads of the arms of the government meaningfully engaged, or suffer the ignominy of seeing them idle
The MP also used the moment to renew his call for the state to create meaningful avenues for retired senior officials to remain engaged in national affairs.
“As I’ve said before, we must find a way to ensure retired heads of government arms remain meaningfully engaged,” he said.
Maraga, who served as Chief Justice from 2016 to 2021, has declared his intention to run for president in the 2027 general election.
He has recently been touring various counties to build grassroots support and is expected to unveil his preferred political vehicle in the coming months.
