Maraga calls for Ruto’s removal over "gross constitutional violations"
Maraga stressed that the country must consider initiating proceedings to remove the President from office, citing growing public discontent and what he termed as a collapse in constitutional governance.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga has called on Kenyans to begin a process aimed at holding President William Ruto accountable for what he described as serious violations of the Constitution, signalling a bold political intervention from one of Kenya’s most respected legal minds.
In a statement, Maraga stressed that the country must consider initiating proceedings to remove the President from office, citing growing public discontent and what he termed as a collapse in constitutional governance.
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“We must commence a process to hold the President accountable for gross violations of the Constitution,” he said.
While Maraga did not outline the specific method to be used, he urged Kenyan youth, who have been at the forefront of recent protests, to determine the best course of action.
Maraga urged leaders to take seriously the concerns of young people, noting that they have borne the brunt of efforts to secure good governance and accountability.
“We must listen to the concerns of the young people who have paid a heavy price since last year,” he added.
He also highlighted that although the Constitution protects a sitting President from prosecution, Parliament retains the power to impeach.
Maraga outlined a four-point plan to restore constitutional order, with a key emphasis on a comprehensive evaluation of the National Assembly and other state institutions.
He argued that accountability must extend beyond the presidency to other state organs, including the National Police Service, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Inspector General of Police, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), and the National Assembly.
“We must hold accountable all leaders of institutions that have failed in upholding the Rule of Law, including the National Police Service, the IG, DCI, IPOA, and the National Assembly,” he stated.
Condemning recent violence and the killing of protesters, Maraga expressed sorrow for the lives lost, terming the killings unacceptable. He warned against political elites using symbolic reconciliations—such as the 2018 “handshake” between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga—to solve deep-rooted governance issues.
“This is not an ethnic or generational crisis. It is a leadership crisis,” Maraga said, refuting recent characterisations of the unrest.
He further accused the Ruto administration of using police and military force against unarmed citizens, calling it a betrayal of public trust and a dereliction of presidential duty.
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