Maraga issues seven-day ultimatum to Ruto over police reforms report
Maraga said his demand was prompted by what he described as the failure to implement recommendations in the report.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga has threatened to publish the National Taskforce on Police Reforms report himself if President William Ruto does not release the complete and unedited version within seven days. The report was submitted to Ruto on November 16, 2023, and Maraga claims it was prepared at public expense. In his letter dated August 18, 2026, Maraga demanded the immediate release of the report, citing the failure to implement recommendations, including those aimed at restoring the independence of the National Police Service and addressing police brutality.
Established by President Ruto on December 22, 2022, the taskforce was initially tasked with reviewing the terms and conditions of service for the National Police Service and Kenya Prisons Service. However, its mandate was expanded to include the National Youth Service in March 2023. The taskforce collected public views and prepared recommendations covering legal, policy, administrative, institutional, and operational constraints, as well as welfare and terms of service for the three services.
On October 4, 2023, Ruto received an interim report and accepted three key recommendations. The taskforce presented its final report to Ruto on November 16, 2023, identifying issues such as underfunding, corruption, leadership challenges, poor human-resource management, and structural problems affecting the three services. The government has reported progress on implementing some recommendations, including salary reviews, promotions, decentralisation of human-resource functions, and proposed amendments to the NPSC Act.
However, Maraga is particularly concerned about recommendations aimed at restoring the independence of the National Police Service and addressing police brutality. He accused the government of allowing organized political violence, goonism, and partisan policing in various parts of the country, citing Homa Bay, Keumbu, Ol Kalou, Kisumu, Nairobi, and Witima.
Maraga warned that this situation is a result of "State Capture of the National Police Service" and urged against repeating past mistakes. The seven-day deadline for Ruto to release the report runs from August 18, 2026, placing the deadline on August 25, 2026.
Written by urgent.news from Capital FM Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
