NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Chief Justice David Maraga has delivered an indictment of the Ruto administration, saying Kenya is not facing a constitutional crisis that can be solved with political handshakes, but rather a failure of leadership that demands full accountability.
In a statement issued Tuesday through his 2027 presidential campaign secretariat, Maraga said the violent state crackdown on youth-led protests signals a deep institutional collapse and warned that the country is teetering on the brink of instability.
“Kenya cries for a moral front to consolidate the incredible courage of the young people who have been demanding a better country,” said Maraga. “This is not an inter-generational conflict or an ethnic divide. It is a leadership and institutional failure.”
His remarks come a day after several people were reportedly killed and many others injured during nationwide protests.
Thousands of young Kenyans took to the streets in yet another wave of demonstrations over economic inequality, government corruption, and growing repression.
The police response has drawn heavy criticism, with rights groups accusing the state of using lethal force on unarmed civilians.
Maraga mourned the victims and condemned the destruction of property, saying the government must take responsibility for the violence.
“We must hold accountable all leaders of institutions that have failed in upholding the rule of law — including the National Police Service, the IG, DCI, IPOA, and the National Assembly,” he said.
This moment calls upon us to put aside political interests and pursue the Kenya of our most courageous dreams…with four absolute essentials as outlined below.
He also called for the prosecution of all individuals involved in the killings and destruction, and demanded that the President be held responsible for what he termed “gross violations of the Constitution.”
“The buck stops with the President. We must commence a process to hold him accountable,” Maraga stated.
Rejecting any calls for elite political settlements, power-sharing deals, or referendums, Maraga emphasized that Kenya cannot afford to recycle failed approaches.
“We cannot entertain, yet again, elite settlements and handshakes that do not fundamentally change the welfare of Kenyans,” he said.
Instead, he outlined a four-point path forward:
- Listen to the youth — particularly those who have paid a heavy price since the protests began.
- Demand accountability from heads of public institutions that have failed in their constitutional duties.
- Ensure justice by prosecuting those responsible for killings, injuries, and property damage.
- Initiate a national process to hold the President accountable.
“This moment calls for us to write the next chapter of our history with the ink of moral fortitude,” Maraga declared. “We must restore the rule of law, human dignity, and economic hope.”
The former CJ said he is already engaging with various leaders and civil society organisations to chart a new way forward.
“We can prevent further bloodshed and destruction,” he said. “But only if we act — not with backroom deals, but with courage, truth, and justice.”
