Former Chief Justice David Maraga delivered a searing critique of Kenya’s leadership and law enforcement during a revealing interview on Citizen TV’s The Explainer on Tuesday, 15th July 2025.

The wide-ranging conversation saw Maraga not only speak passionately about the police’s conduct during recent Gen Z protests but also reflect on his own leadership style, constitutionalism, and the urgent need for moral courage among those in power.

A Personal Encounter with Protest Pain

Maraga opened up about a deeply personal experience, recalling being teargassed while marching in solidarity with families of victims from the 2024 Gen Z protests.

“I felt the sting of teargas myself,” he revealed, adding that the harrowing experience brought him closer to the profound pain many Kenyans endure during protests.

Outrage Over Boniface Kariuki’s Death 

The former Chief Justice unequivocally condemned the killing of Boniface Kariuki, a 29-year-old hawker fatally shot by police during the June 2025 protests.

Calling the act “inhumane and alarming,” Maraga demanded that those responsible be held accountable for their actions.

“You don’t shoot an unarmed man at close range and walk away,” he asserted, highlighting the gravity of the incident. 

"Leadership with a Spine"

In one of the interview’s most powerful segments, Maraga spoke bluntly about what he perceives as the failure of Kenya’s current leadership to act decisively in moments of crisis.

He sharply criticised officials for merely issuing hollow statements after grave incidents rather than enforcing real accountability.

“Leadership must start from the top. If I were still serving, heads would roll. You cannot have people dying in the streets and expect to stay silent,” he declared, laying down a clear challenge.

Maraga lamented the "timidity" of state institutions and emphasised that a pervasive lack of decisive action at the top inevitably trickles down, fostering a culture of impunity on the ground.

He powerfully argued that those in positions of power must cease hiding behind bureaucratic facades and instead embrace their moral responsibility.

Police Reform and Disillusionment with Oversight

Maraga reiterated his long-standing call for comprehensive human rights training for law enforcement officers but cautioned that training alone, without a foundational shift in values and accountability mechanisms, would amount to nothing.

He expressed concern that many officers still lack a fundamental understanding of their role in a democratic society, often operating as enforcers rather than protectors of the citizenry.

He also urged judicial boldness, calling upon the courts and oversight agencies to steadfastly resist political influence and defend the Constitution “without fear or favour.”

The retired CJ did not spare oversight bodies like IPOA (Independent Policing Oversight Authority) and other watchdog agencies, accusing them of becoming “toothless” and potentially compromised.

He issued a stark warning that if these institutions continue to function merely as public relations tools, public confidence in justice and accountability will erode even further.

The Systemic Problem: "Normalised Impunity"

Touching on deeply entrenched systemic injustice, Maraga contended that Kenya’s current framework is fundamentally built to protect the powerful, rather than to serve the ordinary citizen.

He likened the country’s governance structure to a fortress of silence, where genuine public outcry is consistently ignored, and wrongdoers are often paradoxically rewarded with promotions or convenient reshuffles.

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“In Kenya, we’ve normalised impunity,” he stated grimly. “People expect you to step aside for two weeks, get cleared, and come back like nothing happened. That’s not justice.” 

Maraga’s Comments on People Marching to State House

During the interview, Maraga, who was responding to a hypothetical scenario about citizens marching to State House—a site that has become emblematic of recent protest movements—outlined a leadership approach rooted in dialogue rather than force.

He stated that, if elected president, he would engage directly with demonstrators instead of sanctioning violence. “I would meet protesters at State House, not order them shot,” Maraga emphasized.

Maraga defended the right of Kenyans to protest, framing it as a legitimate expression of frustration when other avenues fail. He highlighted the plight of young people, noting, “The young people have been forgotten. Nobody is listening to them. When they complain, using technology, with stereotypes, when they do that, what happens to them? They are abducted. Can you imagine? Abducted, I mean, a young person abducted because he is expressing his anger.” 

He further argued that addressing the root causes of protests through dialogue and intelligence-gathering would be more effective than suppression.