Former Chief Justice David Maraga has accused the Kenya Kwanza government of weaponising courts to intimidate youthful protesters and silence critics.
The retired judge, who is positioning himself as a presidential contender in 2027, says peaceful demonstrators are routinely charged with fabricated offences meant to cow them.
“Young people and activists calling for accountability are increasingly being framed as criminals,” Maraga said in recent public remarks. “Peaceful demonstrators are being taken to court on trumped-up allegations purely meant to intimidate them.”
Maraga faults terror charges against protesters
The 73-year-old former head of the judiciary has emerged as one of the sharpest critics of President William Ruto administration handling of Gen Z-led protests that started over rejected tax proposals but later broadened into demands for better governance and an end to corruption.
Rights organisations say hundreds of demonstrators have been arrested, with some facing life imprisonment under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Maraga termed the application of the anti-terror law against protesters a blatant abuse of judicial processes.
Legacy of bold rulings
Maraga, who retired in 2021, is best remembered for leading the Supreme Court bench that nullified Uhuru Kenyatta 2017 re-election over irregularities – a first in Africa. He later twice advised the dissolution of parliament for failing to enact the two-thirds gender rule, earning him respect among reform advocates and anger from the political class.
New front against cybercrimes law, labour exports
The former Chief Justice has also criticised the recently enacted cybercrimes legislation, saying it is being used to harass online critics. He equally condemned unregulated overseas labour export programmes, describing them as modern-day slavery that is draining Kenya of its youthful workforce.
Youth see hope in Maraga
With youth unemployment still high and public anger simmering, many young Kenyans view the former Chief Justice as one of the few senior figures willing to confront power directly.
“If we continue this way, democracy is in peril,” Maraga warned, urging dialogue instead of bullets, abductions and courtroom intimidation.
His growing profile as an outspoken government critic has injected fresh uncertainty into the 2027 presidential race in East Africa’s largest economy.
