'This is deception!' Maraga tears into Ruto's war on graft

Former Chief Justice David Maraga has criticised President William Ruto over his recent allegations of corruption among legislators, accusing the Head of State of engaging in cheap theatrics and blame games.

According to Maraga, the President is overstepping his mandate by creating unconstitutional bodies that duplicate the functions of established state agencies, wasting billions of taxpayers’ money in the process.

Over the past fortnight, tensions between State House and Parliament have escalated following President Ruto’s scathing remarks accusing Members of Parliament of soliciting bribes in exchange for passing legislation and compiling reports.

The first of these allegations was made during the ninth Devolution Conference in Homa Bay, followed days later by further accusations during a joint United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Parliamentary Group meeting at the KCB Leadership Centre in Karen, Nairobi.

“There are individuals tarnishing the reputation of Parliament, collecting money in its name, money that never reaches the institution, but instead benefits a select few,” the President stated during the PG meeting last Monday.

The following day, Dr Ruto announced the formation of an 11-member Multi-Agency Taskforce to investigate corruption. However, a court has since suspended the operations of the committee.

Superficial and deceptive

In an interview with The Standard, Maraga criticised the President’s approach to fighting graft, describing it as superficial and deceptive. “That’s cosmetic. A PR exercise. It’s a deception. We already have the necessary institutions to deal with corruption,” he said of the anti-graft committee, accusing Dr Ruto of misleading the public.

He added that he was unsurprised by the court’s suspension of the committee, noting that the formation of such parallel bodies could demoralise key agencies, such as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

The President’s corruption allegations infuriated MPs, many of whom boycotted parliamentary proceedings last Tuesday. They demanded that the President name the legislators allegedly seeking bribes from senior government officials.

“We want the President to come and explain who is demanding bribes. You cannot subject Parliament to trial in a kangaroo court when statutes already exist to address unethical conduct by MPs. We challenge our Speakers to convene the necessary committee to listen to the President,” said Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang. 

Maraga asserted that Kenyans deserve to know which MPs are allegedly demanding bribes, and from whom. “The matter should be handled by the EACC and the Director of Public Prosecutions, who should prefer appropriate charges backed by evidence presented in court,” he added.

He noted that such blame games were not new, recalling similar experiences during his tenure as Chief Justice.

Recent reports from the EACC and the Auditor General have revealed worrying trends in public sector corruption, with several Executive agencies implicated in major financial scandals.

Maraga also took issue with President Ruto’s recent formation of a committee tasked with compensating victims of police violence and protest-related injuries.

He insisted that the Makau Mutua-led committee should not determine compensation amounts, but should instead refer such matters to the courts. “The victims should be allowed to file claims in court. It is the court that is constitutionally mandated to assess compensation,” he said, stressing that perpetrators must be held accountable.

For the 74-year-old former Chief Justice, the Kenyan Constitution offers comprehensive solutions to many of the country’s challenges, including human rights violations, economic struggles, excessive borrowing, and mismanagement of public funds. “There are numerous constitutional provisions—socio-economic rights, access to education and healthcare—that, if fully implemented, would guarantee a better life for Kenyans. The real problem lies in budgeted corruption… State funds are being used to bribe MPs. That is extremely unfortunate,” he remarked.

In 2017, Chief Justice David Maraga led the Supreme Court in a historic ruling that annulled the presidential election due to irregularities, the first such decision in Africa and the fourth globally.

After retiring, he chaired the Presidential Taskforce on Police Reforms and has since joined politics, declaring his intention to challenge the Kenya Kwanza regime in the 2027 General Election.
“My philosophy is ukatiba—upholding the Constitution and caring for others,” he told The Standard, citing ethnic divisions as a major obstacle to development.

He dismissed claims of being a political “project” as baseless propaganda. “If Uhuru couldn’t buy me in 2017, who could?” he posed.

Maraga plans to launch a political party and is open to alliances with like-minded leaders. Confident in grassroots support, he said: “I only need money for logistics—and we’ll be ready.”