Former Chief Justice Maraga Says Kenyan Youth Have Nothing to Celebrate This Madaraka Day

Condemns arrest of activist Rose Njeri as betrayal of democratic values

NAIROBI – Former Chief Justice David Maraga delivered a scathing critique of the Kenyan government on Sunday, declaring that the nation’s youth have “nothing to celebrate this Madaraka Day” following the controversial arrest of software developer and activist Rose Njeri.

In a strongly-worded statement issued as Kenya marked its 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations at Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay, Maraga described Njeri’s detention as a “tragic irony” that fundamentally contradicts the spirit of the national holiday meant to commemorate internal self-rule and democratic freedoms.

Rose Njeri was arrested on Friday afternoon in South B, Nairobi, and taken to Pangani Police Station.

Her alleged crime?

Creating an innovative online platform called Civic Email that enabled ordinary Kenyans to easily send formal objections to Members of Parliament regarding controversial provisions in the proposed Finance Bill 2025.

The software developer’s detention without charges or bail has drawn fierce criticism from civil society organizations, digital rights activists, and youth groups across the country, who view her arrest as an attack on civic participation and technological innovation.

“Ms. Rose Njeri is the latest to be abducted for allegedly innovating an accessible system for citizens to express their views on the Finance Bill 2025.

This completely negates the spirit of Madaraka,” Maraga stated in his Sunday declaration.

The former Chief Justice painted a grim picture of contemporary Kenya, particularly for its younger generation.

He highlighted the stark contradictions facing the country as it celebrated its journey toward self-governance while simultaneously suppressing the very democratic participation that Madaraka Day represents.

“Youth unemployment is still soaring, livelihood opportunities keep shrinking, while a minority of the political elite live in opulence, straddling the young majority into servitude,” Maraga observed, drawing attention to the growing inequality that characterizes modern Kenya.

His comments come as the country grapples with persistent economic challenges that have disproportionately affected young Kenyans, many of whom struggle to find meaningful employment despite high levels of education and technical skills.

Maraga’s statement also served as a somber reminder of the events that unfolded exactly one year ago, when widespread protests led to significant loss of life among Kenya’s youth population.

“Today, we begin a solemn month of reflection in memory of the lives of more than 60 young people killed in June 2024,” he said, referring to what he termed the ‘Gen Z Revolution.’

“It is a month to stand in solidarity with those injured and abducted, and to comfort the families of those who lost their loved ones to police brutality.”

The former Chief Justice’s reference to the June 2024 protests underscores the ongoing tensions between Kenya’s government and its youth, who have increasingly turned to digital platforms and peaceful demonstrations to express their dissatisfaction with governance and economic policies.

Rather than allowing Madaraka Day to pass as mere ceremony, Maraga used the occasion to call for deep national introspection about Kenya’s commitment to the values of justice and freedom that the holiday is meant to represent.

“The country needs to rejuvenate the true spirit of Madaraka,” he declared, urging Kenyans to move beyond commemorative rhetoric toward meaningful action that protects and strengthens democratic institutions.

Njeri’s arrest occurs against the backdrop of growing government scrutiny of digital activism and civic technology in Kenya.

Her Civic Email platform represents a new generation of tools designed to make government more accessible and responsive to citizens, particularly younger Kenyans who are increasingly tech-savvy and politically engaged.

The timing of her detention—just days before Madaraka Day and amid ongoing debates about the Finance Bill 2025—has led many observers to view the arrest as politically motivated, designed to discourage public participation in legislative processes.