Former CJ David Maraga Condemns Abductions in New Year Message

Former Chief Justice David Maraga on Monday, December 30, penned a New Year’s message to Kenyans condemning the recent spate of abductions and killings witnessed this year calling for an immediate release of the abducted Kenyans.

“This year has not been easy for many families. The killing, maiming, and abduction of young Kenyans put to serious test our institutions. It demands a moral response. If we are truly a people sworn to the sanctity of life and the dignity of every citizen, then we must stand bold in the truth of our Constitution,” Maraga’s message read in part. 

“I condemn the killing, torture, and abductions and call for the immediate release of the youth still held unlawfully. Our politics must never again be this heartless and uncaring,” Maraga added.

Maraga’s message came as the country’s is facing a tumultous end to the year as cases of alleged abductions and enforced disappearances are on the rise. The abductions are said to be due to increased criticism of President Ruto’s government as Kenyans demand for better leadership and service delivery.

A recent report revealed that since June 2024 atleast 82 Kenyans are reported to have been abducted with 29 still missing. This is despite Ruto’s recent pledge to put an end to abductions in the country.

Maraga, in the statement, added that 2024 witnessed the full embodiment of the Kenyan Constitution long after it was promulgated in 2010 through the June-July Gen Z-led protests.

“Fidelity to the Constitution is fundamental. It keeps us all grounded in our responsibility to build a just society. When Kenyans voted overwhelmingly for a new constitution in August 2010, they laid down a fundamentally new vision for transforming the country and nation,” he stated.

“This is the vision that was at the heart of the June-July national protests dubbed “Gen Z”. It was the desire of Kenyans from all walks of life to take charge of our collective destiny. It was a desire to address the culture of impunity and confront callousness and unresponsive attitudes to genuine issues of public concern,” Maraga noted.

The former CJ, therefore, called for increased adherence to the Constitution, noting that it provided clear and defined structures for governance, ethics, and the rule of law in the coming year. While terming the Constitution a pledge made by Kenyans, Maraga noted that heeding the law of the land would only come about if basic human values and principles took precedence. 

“As we usher in the New Year, I call upon all of us to reflect on the promise that we made to ourselves 14 years ago. We defined a clear path for our future. We set down the values of governance, ethics, and standards of excellence as our guiding light,” the former CJ asserted.

“However, these values and principles can only be realised when they become true to you and me when fairness and humility are the first things we meet at the doors of our offices when truth and justice are the ink that runs through our pens at work when human dignity and responsibility are the forces that fuel our work,” Maraga stated.

At the same time, Maraga raised the alarm on other issues that brought great distress to Kenyans in 2024, urging immediate addressing of the situation. He thereafter recommended two measures to get the country back on track.

“The cries of pain and outrage we saw this year were sparked by the erosion of basic dignity and economic mismanagement. We must urgently address the decline in vital sectors such as education and health,” he expressed. 

“We must reset the economy to create decent jobs for our youth and restructure our tax regime in order to guarantee fairness and sustainability of the tax burden. This is possible. The country has done this before and can do it again,” Maraga averred.

Nonetheless, Maraga lauded the unbowing spirit of Kenyans in the face of adversity, highlighting their efforts in demanding accountability from their leaders. He, however, maintained that the overall responsibility of good governance rested with those in power.

“This year has also shown the resilience of the Kenyan people in the face of adversity. We have seen Kenyans actively take charge and hold our public institutions to account and lead the way in demanding accountability as enshrined in the Constitution, even as they faced the brute force of a regime’s push-back,” he stated. 

“Let me be clear. The responsibility of ensuring that instruments of power are not abused lies with office bearers,” CJ Emeritus Maraga affirmed.

Maraga called upon the government to ensure that the coming year of 2025 would be a year of accountability after a tumultuous 2024 challenging them to follow the Constitution, the rule of law ,and justice.