Maraga Gives President William Ruto Seven Days to Release Police Reform Report

 By Faith wanza mueni 

Photo: former chief justice David Maraga

Chief Justice David Maraga has given President William Ruto a seven-day ultimatum to release and publish the complete and unedited report of the National Taskforce on Police Reforms, warning that he will make the document public himself if the President fails to act.

In a letter dated August 18, 2026, addressed to President Ruto at State House, Nairobi, Maraga, who chaired the taskforce, said the report had been submitted to the President on November 16, 2023, but its recommendations had not been fully implemented.

Maraga said the taskforce made recommendations aimed at restoring the independence of the National Police Service (NPS), ending systemic police brutality and addressing impunity within the security service.

“For now, nearly three years, you have failed to implement the said recommendations and restore the Independence of the Service,” Maraga said in the letter.

The former Chief Justice cited Articles 232, 239, 244 and 245 of the Constitution, as well as Sections 8 and 8A of the National Police Service Act, arguing that the law establishes the National Police Service as an independent national security organ that should not be directed by any individual in the discharge of its mandate.

“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,” he said.

Maraga expressed concern over what he described as organised political violence, goonism and partisan policing in different parts of the country.

He cited incidents in Homa Bay, Keumbu and Ol Kalou, as well as acts of violence reported in churches in Kisumu, Nairobi and Witima, among other areas.

According to Maraga, the incidents demonstrate the dangers of allowing political interests to influence the operations of the police service.

“This is a road the country has travelled before at 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,” he said.

The former Chief Justice further argued that the continued failure to implement the taskforce recommendations had undermined efforts to strengthen the independence and professionalism of the police service.

The taskforce, appointed by President Ruto in December 2022, was mandated to examine the welfare of personnel in the National Police Service and Kenya Prisons Service and recommend legal, policy, administrative, institutional and operational reforms.

It collected views from members of the public and officers before submitting its final report to the President in November 2023.

Maraga said the report was prepared using public resources and should therefore be accessible to Kenyans under Article 35 of the Constitution, which guarantees citizens the right to access information.

“In the circumstances, and in view of the fact that that 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, failing which I will myself release it,” he stated.

The demand places the issue of police reforms and accountability back at the centre of public debate, nearly three years after the taskforce handed over its recommendations to the President.

Maraga’s ultimatum comes amid renewed public scrutiny of the conduct, independence and accountability of the National Police Service, particularly following allegations of political violence and police misconduct in various parts of the country.

The taskforce’s recommendations have previously been cited in discussions on strengthening policing laws, improving officers’ welfare, enhancing accountability and promoting professionalism within the service.

Maraga has now put the responsibility squarely on President William Ruto, demanding that the full report be made public within seven days.

Should the deadline lapse without the report being released, the former Chief Justice has stated that he will publish it himself, setting the stage for a potentially significant disclosure on the proposed reforms to Kenya’s policing system.