Former Chief Justice David Maraga has strongly criticized President William Ruto for signing eight controversial Bills into law amid national mourning for Raila Odinga. Speaking at Nairobi’s Panafric Hotel, Maraga accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of betraying the ideals of the 2010 Constitution and undermining democratic freedoms.
Maraga termed the timing of the presidential assent as “insensitive and contemptuous,” arguing that it symbolized the administration’s disregard for public sentiment. “It is a mockery of the ideals that Raila Odinga fought for and the Constitution we swore to protect,” he said.
He particularly condemned amendments to the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, warning that they grant the government unchecked power to control online expression. “The changes allow a government committee to shut down platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok without judicial oversight,” Maraga cautioned, describing the move as a direct attack on media freedom.
The former Chief Justice also faulted the limited public participation in passing the Bills, saying Parliament ignored citizens’ submissions. He declared the amendments “unconstitutional, null, and void,” adding that legal challenges are already being filed.
Turning to the Privatization Act, Maraga accused the government of plotting to “rob Kenyans” by allowing the President and Treasury CS to sell state assets without parliamentary scrutiny. “The Act even exempts disclosure of buyers’ names—creating room for corruption,” he said.
Maraga also decried the country’s rising debt, claiming the administration borrows over KSh 5 billion weekly. He urged citizens to defend national sovereignty, warning that prosperity would not come from “selling strategic assets” but from empowering ordinary Kenyans.
“The power lies with the people not the Executive or Parliament,” Maraga concluded. “We must defend our freedoms before they are buried silently.”
