Nairobi -Former Chief Justice David Maraga has called for President William Ruto’s removal from office, accusing him of gross constitutional violations and a failure of national leadership.
In a strongly worded statement issued Tuesday, Maraga said it is time for Kenyans to begin a lawful process to hold the president accountable, pointing to what he described as repeated breaches of the Constitution and the misuse of state power.
“We must commence a process to hold the President accountable for gross violations of the Constitution,” Maraga stated.
While he did not spell out a specific path, he emphasized that it is up to the country’s youth who have borne the brunt of protests and state crackdowns to determine the approach within constitutional bounds.
Under Article 145 of the Kenyan Constitution, a sitting president can only be removed through impeachment by Parliament or voluntary resignation. The law protects a president from prosecution while in office.
Maraga laid out a four-point appeal that extended beyond the presidency. He called for accountability across public institutions, naming the National Police Service, Inspector General, Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), and the National Assembly.
“All these institutions and their leaders must answer for their role in enabling or ignoring abuses of power and failures to uphold the rule of law,” he said.
Rejects Political Deals and Elite Pacts
Maraga dismissed behind-the-scenes political arrangements often referred to as “handshakes”saying such deals fail to address the core issues affecting Kenyans.
“We must listen to the concerns of the young people who have paid a heavy price since last year,” he said. “This is not an inter-generational conflict. It is not an ethnic crisis. It is a failure of leadership.”
His statement appeared to counter recent remarks by Raila Odinga, who framed the national unrest as a generational struggle requiring long-term reform. Maraga disagreed with that view and argued that Kenya’s problems stem from leadership gaps, not ethnic or generational divides.
Police Violence and Public Anger
Maraga also condemned the government’s use of force against peaceful demonstrators, calling it a betrayal of the president’s constitutional duty to protect citizens.
“The government has turned its weapons on unarmed Kenyans. This is a clear abdication of responsibility,” he said.
He expressed grief over lives lost during recent protests, calling the killings “unacceptable” and a stain on the country’s conscience.
As calls for reform mount, Maraga urged Kenyans to unify behind leaders and voices that promote constitutionalism, economic justice, and human dignity.
“This country cannot be saved by more political theatre. It will be saved by truth, accountability, and the courage to do what is right,” Maraga concluded.
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