Former Chief Justice (CJ) David Maraga has condemned sexual violence witnessed during demonstrations honouring victims of the June 25, 2024, protests, in which at least 60 individuals lost their lives.
In a statement on June 26, 2025, Maraga stated that the sexual violence young women endured is a reflection of the incompetence of the government mandated to protect them.
“I am horrified at reports of sexual violence, especially against young women. I am appalled by reports of a young woman raped by 3 “goons” while she cried for help, as machete-wielding men threatened those trying to help her. This is heartbreaking,” read the statement in part.
“No one should ever have to endure that kind of pain and helplessness. It is, sadly, a reflection of the heartlessness of authority that is supposed to protect the vulnerable,” he added.
Furthermore, he has condemned the destruction of property across the country, calling for legal action against the perpetrators.
“I condemn the destruction of property that was witnessed yesterday and urge that the appropriate legal action be taken against the perpetrators. But this is evidence of the rot that unmitigated lawlessness that starts from the very top does to a country: it normalises and moralises criminality such as killings, abductions, stealing and plundering of public and private resources, mostly by those who have power or their agents.”
“We cannot allow any aspect of criminality to be a feature that defines us,” he added.
Murkomen
The CJ has also condemned the Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen’s statement on the occurrences of the protests and their aftermath.
“The insensitive and callous statement by CS Murkomen is a further testament to a government that has no regard for life. A government that continues to lose its legitimacy in the face of its citizenry,” he stated.
This comes after Murkomen, in a statement on June 26, 2025, condemned the vandalism witnessed in the country, which was premeditated and deliberate.
“We witnessed a well-orchestrated campaign of political violence; what happened was not spontaneous or random; it was deliberate, coordinated, funded, politically motivated, and premeditated,” he stated.
“The mobilised protesters, especially along Kiambu and Thika Road, were chanting, ‘It is time to take out power and occupy State House.’ The massive looting had a clear motive to cause fear and target the property of politicians and civilians allied to the government and innocent civilians,” he added.
