NAIROBI, Kenya — Presidential Hopeful David Maraga in his Madaraka Day message launched a sharp critique of President William Ruto’s administration, accusing it of undermining Kenya’s sovereignty, weakening democratic institutions, and failing to address the economic struggles facing ordinary citizens.
In a statement titled “This Republic Still Belongs to You”, issued on May 31, the former Chief Justice and presidential aspirant framed June as a period of national reflection, linking Kenya’s independence journey to the youth-led protests witnessed in 2024.
Maraga said the country was experiencing a crisis of governance and argued that sovereign power belongs to citizens under Article 1 of the Constitution.
“Madaraka means self-governance. It means sovereignty. And sovereignty, under our Constitution, does not rest with the President. It does not rest with Parliament. It does not rest with the Judiciary,” he said.
He praised young Kenyans who participated in recent protests, describing them as a generation driven by constitutional ideals rather than political patronage.
The former Chief Justice also took issue with reports that Kenya could host facilities linked to the management of Ebola-exposed individuals from the United States, arguing that any such arrangement should not compromise national sovereignty or public safety.
“It is broken when the government mortgages our sovereignty to foreign countries to use our country as their quarantine centre without regard to the health or views of Kenyans,” Maraga stated.
His remarks come amid an ongoing public debate over reports that a United States-supported Ebola isolation and quarantine facility could be established in Kenya, a proposal currently facing legal challenges in court.
Maraga further accused the government of weakening institutions that Kenyans had built through decades of political struggle, including the Judiciary, oversight bodies, devolved governments, and the media.
Addressing Members of Parliament directly, he urged legislators to exercise their constitutional oversight role more robustly.
“You hold the first and primary constitutional obligation to oversight the Executive. You hold the power of the purse. You hold the instruments of censure,” he said.
The former Judiciary chief argued that Parliament should not remain silent when constitutional institutions are allegedly being disregarded.
Economic Hardships
Maraga also focused on the state of the economy, saying many families continue to struggle with the high cost of living.
He questioned the priorities reflected in the national budget, arguing that public resources should be directed toward health, education, and employment rather than debt obligations and political interests.
“As the budget-making cycle continues, we must ask: for whom is this budget being written?” he posed.
The statement is one of Maraga’s strongest political interventions since declaring his intention to seek the presidency and comes as opposition figures and civil society groups intensify criticism of the government over governance, public debt, taxation, and civil liberties.
His message also signals an effort to position himself as a constitutional reform candidate ahead of the 2027 General Election, with governance, accountability, and institutional independence emerging as central themes of his political campaign.
The government has consistently defended its policies, maintaining that ongoing reforms are aimed at stabilising the economy, strengthening public institutions, and accelerating development across the country.
