Former Chief Justice David Maraga has called for the need for justice and accountability in his New Year’s message to Kenyans.
In his message shared on Monday, December 30, he highlighted the struggles of 2024 which were marked by violence and economic challenges.
Maraga started off by condemning the killing and abduction of young Kenyans, which he described as a moral crisis demanding urgent attention.
"This year has not been easy for many families. The killing, maiming, and abduction of young Kenyans has 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. 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," he said in part.
Maraga went ahead to reiterate the importance of fidelity to the Constitution, noting that its vision was evident during the Gen Z protests earlier in the year.
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"Fidelity to the Constitution is fundamental. It keeps us all grounded to 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. 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 the outright callousness and unresponsive attitudes to genuine issues of public concern," he added.
Additionally, Maraga also called on the government to address challenges witnessed in vital economic sectors including education and health.
"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. 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," he further stated.
However, despite the challenges, Maraga commended Kenyans for their resilience, and most importantly for holding public institutions to account and demanding accountability.
"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. Let me be clear. The responsibility of ensuring that instruments of power are not abused lies with office bearers," he added.
Looking ahead to 2025, Maraga urged Kenyans to reflect on the commitments made during the adoption of the 2010 Constitution, further calling for fairness and respect for human dignity.
"Let us determine that 2025 is the year that these values become an inseparable part of us. It must also be the year of accountability for those who caused so much pain to Kenyans in 2024. This must be the year that we stand firmly for constitutionalism, the rule of law, and justice. Let us always remember our collective destiny and safeguard it. I wish all Kenyans a great and prosperous New Year. God bless you, and God bless Kenya," remarked Maraga.
