Former Chief Justice David Maraga has asked President William Ruto to release and publish the full Police Reform Taskforce Report, saying he will make the document public himself if it is not released within seven days.
Maraga, who chaired the National Taskforce on Police Reforms, said the report was submitted to Ruto on November 16, 2023, and that its recommendations had yet to be fully implemented.
In a letter to the President, Maraga raised concerns about the independence of the National Police Service.
“A reading of Articles 232, 239, 244, 245 and Sections 8 and 8A of the National Police Service Act makes it quite clear that the National Police Service is and should be an independent national security organ that should not be directed by any person on the discharge of its mandate,” Maraga said.
He also referred to what he described as organised political violence and partisan policing in Homa Bay, Keumbu and Ol Kalou, as well as acts of violence reported in churches in Kisumu, Nairobi and Witima.
“Contrary to these express provisions, we have witnessed organised political violence, goonism and partisan policing in Homa Bay, Keumbu, Of Kalou as well as acts of violence in churches in Kisumu, Nairobi and Witima, among others,” he said.
Maraga warned that Kenya risked returning to a period in which political interference in security institutions had severe consequences for the country.
“This is a road the country has travelled before at terrible cost. It must not travel it again,” he said.
Maraga said the taskforce had made recommendations aimed at restoring the independence of the police service and addressing allegations of police brutality and impunity.
“I had the privilege of leading the National Taskforce on Police Reforms, a comprehensive report of which we submitted to you on 16 November 2023,” he said.
“As you are aware, among the recommendations we made in that Report is one requiring you to take appropriate action to restore the Independence of the National Police Service and end the systemic Police brutality and impunity.”
Maraga said nearly three years had passed since the report was submitted without the recommendations being implemented.
He argued that because the report was prepared using public resources, Kenyans have a right to access its contents under Article 35 of the Constitution.
“In the circumstances, and in view of the fact that the report was secured at public expense, and in line with Article 35 of the Constitution, I demand that you immediately release and publish the complete and unedited Taskforce Report within Seven (7) days,” Maraga said.
