Shollei blasts Maraga over protest role, defends police action

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gladys Shollei. [File, Standard]

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gladys Shollei has launched a scathing attack on former Chief Justice David Maraga, accusing him of fuelling unrest during the June 25 protests while benefiting from taxpayer-funded retirement perks.

Addressing Parliament on Thursday, Shollei criticised Maraga’s participation in the demonstrations that turned chaotic, saying they were not peaceful but deliberate acts of violence that destroyed lives and livelihoods.

“Shame on you, Chief Justice Maraga. You’re currently on a pension paid by the government. They pay for your cars, they pay for your gardener, they pay for your coo,k and then you go to the streets to demonstrate and mislead our children to destroy people’s properties,” said Shollei.

She said Kenyans were now struggling to recover from the destruction, noting that some had lost everything they owned. Others, she added, would be unable to pay school fees or feed their families due to the losses.

Shollei congratulated police officers who responded to the violence, offered condolences to those injured and called for swift arrests of those caught on CCTV attacking public institutions.

“Your rights end where the other person’s rights start,” she observed, adding that no one should use constitutional freedoms to trample on others.

Maraga was teargassed along Kimathi Street in Nairobi while taking part in the protests. Earlier, he addressed supporters outside Nation Centre, urging peaceful and orderly demonstrations.

“We need to reset this country because the work of the police is to protect the people, not disrupt peaceful protesters,” Maraga said.

He insisted the crowd had remained peaceful and denied claims of property destruction. “I can testify that no one attempted to destroy property. We were peaceful,” he stated.

On his X page, Maraga wrote, “We strongly condemn the use of state violence against grieving families and peaceful protestors. The flagrant violation of the Constitution and human rights must stop.”

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said nine police stations were attacked, five torched and five firearms stolen from Dagoretti Police Station.

He added that at least 10 people were killed and more than 400 injured, including 300 police officers.

A total of 28 government vehicles, 88 police vehicles and 65 private cars, including a school bus, were also destroyed.

Murkomen warned that those involved in the attacks would face prosecution.