Former Chief Justice David Maraga has issued a powerful statement decrying the growing repression by the State, condemning the recent killings and injuries of protesters, and calling for urgent moral and political action to rescue Kenya from what he terms a deep leadership and institutional crisis.
In a message released from his campaign headquarters in Nairobi, Maraga mourned the deaths and injuries sustained by young Kenyans during recent anti-government demonstrations.
He praised their courage, describing their actions as an exercise of constitutional rights to free speech and assembly.
“Sadly, many had their lives cut short with bullets while others were injured. Their lives had value,” the statement reads. “Many other Kenyans have had their property destroyed. This is unacceptable.”
Maraga said the unrest reflects broader frustrations among millions of Kenyans grappling with state violence, economic collapse, poor healthcare, and a failing education system.
He dismissed attempts to frame the crisis as ethnic or generational, asserting that the root cause lies in failed leadership, not a constitutional or tribal conflict.
“This is a failure of leadership, an institutional failure, and not a constitutional deficit,” he declared, pointing directly at the President for overseeing what he termed the weaponization of police and military against unarmed citizens.
The former Chief Justice outlined four key actions he believes are essential to resolving the crisis:
- Listening to young Kenyans and avoiding elite handshakes that ignore the public’s grievances.
- Holding accountable institutional leaders, including the police and oversight bodies.
- Prosecuting those responsible for the killings, injuries, and destruction.
- Holding the President accountable for alleged constitutional violations, through a public-led process.
Calling for unity and moral courage, Maraga urged leaders and citizens alike to rally behind a vision of constitutionalism, dignity, and economic renewal.
“We can prevent more bloodshed. We can prevent destruction of property,” he said. “Let us write the next chapter of our history with the ink of moral fortitude.”
Maraga concluded by expressing hope that Kenya can reset its democratic foundations, restore dignity, and rebuild the economy, reaffirming his campaign’s rallying call: Reset, Restore, Rebuild.
Written By Rodney Mbua
