Former Chief Justice David Maraga has called for the restoration of the Kenyan constitution ahead of the first anniversary of Rex Masai’s death.
Speaking to a local media station on the night of Wednesday, June 18, 2025, Maraga said that Rex Kanyike Masai and about 60 others were killed during the 2024 anti-government protests while exercising their constitutional right to freedom of expression, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.
Maraga went on to say that their deaths should prompt Kenyans to reflect on the value of human life and the pervasive culture of impunity and corruption fostered by those in authority.
In addition, the former CJ stated that the country must undertake a serious reset, restoring constitutionalism and the rule of law so that everyone obeys the law and the Constitution.
“Today is a memorable day; it was on June 20, 2024, that Rex Masai was murdered and quite a number of others, according to the Kenya National Human Rights Commission, about 60 of them, were also murdered last year because they were exercising their constitutional rights of expression,” Maraga said.
“Today is a day when we reflect back on what human life means to us as a nation, given the culture of impunity that has been developed in this country by those in authority, given the level of corruption in this country.”
Maraga further stated that the country must reset, rebuild and restore to constitutionalism and the rule of law, emphasising that it is time for everyone to obey the law and for institutions to function as intended under the Constitution.
“We need to seriously think about resetting our country; we need to reset our country back to constitutionalism, where everybody has to obey the law. We need to reset our country back to the rule of law and have things work the way they have been provided in the constitution,” he added.
Rex Masai’s death
The 24-year-old was fatally wounded by gunfire during the anti-government protest on Thursday, June 20, 2024, in Nairobi.
According to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), Rex Masai was among several protestors injured by the police during the demos.
“The Authority commends the protesters for holding peaceful demonstrations while unarmed and equally commends the National Police Service’s visible restraint, unlike in previous demonstrations. However, the Authority has documented the death of Rex Masai, allegedly as a result of a police shooting and several serious injuries suffered by other demonstrators, including police officers.” IPOA chairperson Anne Makori said.
