Maraga: It's time to hold President Ruto accountable

Former Chief Justice David Maraga. [Wilberforce Okwiri,Standard]

Former Chief Justice David Maraga says Kenya must begin a process to hold President William Ruto accountable for what he terms gross violations of the Constitution.

In a statement, Maraga said the President, like any other Kenyan, must be held to account for the current state of the nation.

“The buck stops with the President. We must commence a process to hold the President accountable for gross violations of the Constitution. Kenyans can decide what this process would entail. I am confident that together, we will reset this country to the rule of law, restore dignity, and rebuild our economy,” he said.

His remarks come in the aftermath of the Saba Saba protests, where at least 10 people were killed, 29 injured, and property worth millions was destroyed across the country.

According to Maraga, Kenyans are tired of economic hardship, collapsing public healthcare, and a crumbling education system. He urged leaders to stop silencing citizens and instead listen to their concerns, particularly those voiced by the youth.

He also called for accountability across institutions that have failed to uphold the law, citing the National Police Service, the Inspector General, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), and the National Assembly.

Maraga also dismissed Raila Odinga's call for an Intergenerational National Conclave formation to address the country’s crisis.

Odinga had framed the current unrest as a generational issue requiring broad institutional reforms and greater accountability, but Maraga disagreed.

“This is not an inter-generational conflict, as others wish to frame it. Neither is it an ethnic or constitutional crisis requiring a referendum or yet another handshake. This is a failure of leadership, an institutional failure and not a constitutional deficit,” said Maraga.

“It is a failure that exposes the President's abdication of responsibility when his government oversees the weaponisation of police and military against unarmed Kenyans.”

Instead of convening another dialogue platform, Maraga urged leaders to seek common ground and guidance from the people in order to steer the country back to constitutionalism, human dignity, and economic justice.

“Leaders must seek out common voices to guide them back to a path to constitutionalism, economic prosperity, and human dignity,” he said.