Nairobi, Kenya – July 16, 2025

Former Chief Justice Maraga Accuses Parliament of Executive Capture, Calls for Presidential Accountability

In a powerful and unprecedented public rebuke, retired Chief Justice David Maraga has accused the Kenyan Parliament of abdicating its constitutional role by failing to hold President William Ruto accountable amid mounting public discontent and alleged violations of the Constitution.

Speaking during a civic forum on July 15, Maraga asserted that Parliament has been effectively “captured” by the executive, leaving the country without an effective system of checks and balances. He argued that the growing calls from citizens for the President’s resignation underscore the urgency for Parliament to fulfill its constitutional mandate—including the initiation of impeachment proceedings, if necessary.

“If Parliament were doing its work, the President would not be in office today,” Maraga declared, in a scathing indictment of the legislative branch.

Citing alleged constitutional breaches by the executive and a general erosion of democratic accountability, the former Chief Justice said that impeachment remains the only lawful and constitutional path if the President does not step down voluntarily. His remarks come amid a tense political atmosphere marked by nationwide protests over tax policies, governance failures, and deteriorating public trust in state institutions.

Maraga’s intervention has been met with strong reactions across Kenya’s political spectrum. Civil society leaders and legal scholars have praised his boldness in defending constitutionalism, while lawmakers aligned with the ruling coalition have remained largely silent. Opposition figures, meanwhile, have seized on the remarks to renew their calls for institutional reform and executive restraint.

Maraga warned that the growing disconnect between citizens and Parliament—driven by what he called political co-option and patronage—risks deepening national instability. “The Constitution does not exist merely for decoration. It is a living contract with the people, and Parliament is its steward,” he said.

His comments are likely to escalate pressure on lawmakers, many of whom are already under fire for perceived inaction in the face of economic hardship and widespread unrest. With Kenya still reeling from recent protests and public outrage over controversial legislation, Maraga’s voice has added legal and moral weight to calls for greater accountability at the highest levels of government.

As public debate intensifies, the spotlight now turns to Parliament’s leadership, which faces renewed scrutiny over whether it will act independently—or continue to be seen as complicit in shielding the executive from democratic oversight.