Maraga: Those who killed Gen Zs will face the law, one day

“We will eventually have a leadership that will hold them accountable.”

by Allan Kisia

News28 April 2025 - 21:20

In Summary

Maraga hailed journalists and young Kenyans who used their phones, their cameras to capture the events second-by-second.
Former Chief Justice said Kenyans deserve a country where fidelity to the Constitution is the order of the day and the rule of law is respected.

Former Chief Justice David Maraga has condemned the use of force against Gen Z demonstrators in June last year, as shown by a documentary released by BBC Africa.

Maraga said the documentary released on Monday morning should prick the conscience of Kenyans.

“The disproportionate use of force against the youth last June is yet another reminder of the urgent need for IPOA and other investigative agencies such as the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) to carry out their mandates expeditiously,” he stated.

The former Chief Justice said the right to picket is a constitutional guarantee, which was violated.

“Those behind this violence, violation of the Constitution and the rule of law are reminded that although the wheels of justice may grind slowly, we will eventually have a leadership that will hold them accountable for their actions,” he added.

Maraga hailed journalists and young Kenyans who used their phones, their cameras to capture the events second-by-second.

“Over 5,000 images and videos pieced together in the documentary expose what the powers that be tried to bury,” he stated.

“In a time when we cannot trust the words of this administration, it is citizen action and fearless journalism that ensure the truth is not erased.”

Maraga said Kenyans deserve a country where fidelity to the Constitution is the order of the day and the rule of law is respected.

The BBC documentary identified members of the security forces who shot dead anti-tax protesters at Parliament Buildings.

Despite a parliamentary committee ordering Kenya's Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate the deaths on the streets of the capital, Nairobi, and make public its findings, no report regarding the killings at parliament has yet been issued and no one has been held to account.

However, by press time, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) had released a status update on its investigations into police conduct during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations.

The Authority launched investigations following clashes between police and demonstrators across the country in June 2024.

The BBC World Service team analysed videos and photos taken by protesters and journalists on the day.

The BBC's analysis of the images showed that those killed there were unarmed and not posing a threat.

It noted that the Kenyan constitution guarantees the right to peaceful protest.