Former Chief Justice David Maraga has issued a seven-day ultimatum to President William Ruto to release the final report of the police and prison reforms taskforce he led.
In an open letter to the president, Maraga said the report was produced at public expense, and therefore, under Article 35 of the Constitution, the public has a right to know the recommendations his team made. He cited ongoing organized political violence, goonism, and partisan policing in areas including Homa Bay, Keumbu, and Ol Kalou, as well as violence reported in churches in Kisumu, Nairobi, and Witima, among other crimes recorded across the country.
“I demand that you immediately release and publish the complete and unedited Taskforce Report within Seven (7) days, failing which I will myself release it,” the letter says.
He also cited Articles 232, 239, 244, and 245, along with Sections 8 and 8A of the National Police Service Act, which he said make it clear that the National Police Service should remain an independent national security organ and should not take directions from any person, including the President, when it carries out its mandate.
“Contrary to these express provisions, we have witnessed organized political violence, goonism, and partisan policing in Homa Bay, Keumbu, Ol Kalou, as well as acts of violence in churches in Kisumu, Nairobi, and Witima, among others, under your watch, direction, and for your political benefit. This is a road the country has travelled before at a terrible cost. It must not travel it again. This, in my view, is all as a result of the State Capture of the National Police Service,” Maraga claims in the letter.
Maraga said the task force produced a comprehensive report, which his team submitted to the president on November 16, 2023, with recommendations on how to improve the service. He added that among the recommendations, the task force urged the executive to take action to restore the independence of the National Police Service and end what he described as systemic police brutality and impunity.
“For nearly three years, you have failed to implement the said recommendations and restore the independence of the service,” Maraga said.