Former Chief Justice David Maraga has given President William Ruto a seven-day ultimatum to publicly release the full and unedited report from the National Taskforce on Police Reforms.
In a letter dated August 18, 2026, Maraga, who chaired the taskforce, reminded the president that the report was submitted on November 16, 2023. The document contains critical recommendations aimed at restoring the independence of the National Police Service and addressing systemic issues of police brutality and impunity.
Maraga's demands and legal basis
- Maraga insists the report be published immediately, warning that failure to comply within the set timeframe will lead him to release it personally.
- He cited constitutional provisions—Articles 232, 239, 244, and 245—and Sections 8 and 8A of the National Police Service Act, emphasizing that the police service should operate independently, free from presidential interference.
Concerns over police politicization and violence
The former CJ accused the government of enabling "organised political violence, goonism and partisan policing" in various regions, including Homa Bay, Keumbu, Ol Kalou, and incidents in churches across Kisumu, Nairobi, and Witima. Maraga described these as signs of the "State Capture of the National Police Service," warning Kenya risks repeating a troubled past marked by political violence and police abuses.
Transparency and public interest
Maraga stressed that since the report was funded by public resources, Kenyans have the right to access it under Article 35 of the Constitution, which guarantees access to information held by the state when necessary to protect fundamental rights.
Nearly three years after submission, the delay in implementing the taskforce's recommendations, Maraga argues, has stalled efforts to reform the police service and combat brutality and impunity.
He concluded by reiterating the seven-day deadline, placing the responsibility squarely on President Ruto and his administration to act.
