Miguna Miguna has publicly criticized former Chief Justice David Maraga’s recent call for a national “reset,” arguing instead that Kenya needs a full structural rebuild of its political and legal systems.
In a strongly worded statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), the lawyer and former political detainee said Maraga’s approach does not go far enough to address the deep-rooted problems that have plagued the country for decades.
“We cannot ‘reset’ something which is fundamentally and irretrievably defective,” Miguna wrote. “The Kenyan state is fundamentally broken. What we need is a complete restructuring.”
Miguna, who has long been an outspoken critic of Kenya’s post-independence leadership, said the country continues to operate within a colonial-era framework that rewards a small elite while sidelining the working class and rural poor.
“Without addressing these issues at the roots,” he added, “we will never bring dignity, human rights, or social justice to Kenyans.”
While Maraga has been seen by many as a principled figure—especially after nullifying the 2017 presidential election results—Miguna questioned his broader record and ideological commitment to systemic change.
“Can Maraga tell us his true and complete record in the judiciary, including the quality of his work during the Moi and Kibaki regimes?” Miguna asked.
He accused Maraga of offering vague solutions and failing to confront what he sees as Kenya’s biggest obstacle: a culture of impunity built into the very structure of the state.
“Just trusting people to do the right thing is not a plan,” Miguna wrote. “Many don’t understand the problems, and you can’t fix what you don’t understand.”
The lawyer went further, calling for the removal of what he termed “merchants of impunity” from public service and replacing them with individuals of proven integrity.
Maraga, who has spoken in recent months about the need for the country to “reset” its course and rebuild trust in its institutions, has not publicly responded to Miguna’s comments. During a recent interview with journalist Yvonne Okwara, he appeared to double down on his belief that competent and independent leadership could steer Kenya forward—an idea Miguna flatly rejected.
“Allowing those who believe in and practise impunity to work ‘independently’ is a mistake,” he wrote. “That’s been our error since 1963.”
Miguna praised Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traoré as a leader who, in his view, understands the philosophical and ideological grounding needed to reshape a nation. By contrast, he described many Kenyan leaders as conservative, risk-averse, and unprepared to challenge the status quo.
“We need fearless and visionary leaders,” he said. “Not timid paper-pushers relying on a broken system to stay in power.”
Miguna’s comments are likely to stir both support and criticism. Some will see them as an honest and necessary confrontation with uncomfortable truths; others may view them as unnecessarily harsh toward a respected figure like Maraga.
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