Maraga urges June reflection for police brutality victims, links Gen Z protests to Madaraka Day ideals

As the country marks Madaraka Day, former Chief Justice David Maraga has called on Kenyans to dedicate the month of June to national reflection in memory of victims of police brutality, the injured, the abducted, and grieving families.

In a tweet on Sunday, Maraga linked the Gen Z-led demonstrations in June 2024 to the foundational ideals of Madaraka Day, which commemorates Kenya’s journey to internal self-rule and political autonomy.

“Today, we begin a solemn month of reflection in memory of the lives of more than 60 young people killed in June 2024. It is a month to stand in solidarity with those injured and abducted. It is a month to comfort the families of those who lost their loved ones to police brutality,” Maraga said.

“Madaraka Day is about internal self-governance and the freedom to run our country. These are the freedoms that the young people were seeking. They instead were killed, abducted, and some have disappeared without a trace.”

Anti-Finance Bill protests

According to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), 60 protesters died on June 25, 2024, during the anti-Finance Bill protests.

Additionally, over 200 others were injured. Yet, only two cases have progressed to court, and several files recommended for prosecution remain pending with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

More than 25 grieving families have launched a petition, which they plan to present to Parliament on June 25, 2025, marking the first anniversary of what many call a national tragedy

Maraga also condemned the recent abduction of activist Rose Njeri, a Kenyan software developer and activist who found herself at odds with the government after developing an online tool known as Civic Email, designed to facilitate public objections to the Finance Bill 2025.

She was arrested in South B on Friday afternoon and taken to Pangani Police Station.

Her detention has ignited a storm of criticism online, with human rights activists demanding to know why she remains in custody without bail or formal charges.

Maraga said Njeri’s arrest for developing a civic engagement tool undermines the values that Madaraka Day is meant to uphold.

“Ms Rose Njeri is the latest to be abducted for allegedly innovating an accessible system for citizens to express their views on the Finance Bill 2025. This completely negates the spirit of Madaraka,” he said.

The former Chief Justice further criticised the government for presiding over worsening economic inequality and rising youth unemployment.

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• National
• Police Brutality
• Abductions
• madaraka day
• anti-finance bill protests
• gen z protests
• Rose Njeri
• former Chief Justice David Maraga
• victims of police brutality
• Maraga urges June reflection for police brutality victims
• links Gen Z protests to Madaraka Day ideals

“There is therefore nothing for the young people of Kenya to celebrate,” he said.

“Youth unemployment is still soaring, livelihood opportunities keep shrinking while a minority of the political elite live in opulence, straddling the young majority into servitude. This government has indeed lost the moral and legitimate basis of governing.”

Calling for a revival of national values, Maraga said he would stand with the youth during what has come to be known as Gen Z Revolution Month.

“We need to rejuvenate the true spirit of Madaraka. To this end, I will walk with the Gen Z during this solemn Gen Z Revolution Month and beyond, in their activities and plans as they seek to reset, restore and rebuild Kenya,” he said.

He urged citizens to use the month of June to realign with the aspirations of the 2010 Constitution.

“Let us use this month to chart a path back to the aspirations of our 2010 Constitution,” Maraga said.