In a stunning and emotionally charged statement, former Chief Justice David Maraga has called on Kenyans to dedicate the month of June to national mourning, reflection, and action, in honor of those slain, injured, or disappeared during last year’s Gen Z-led protests.
As the country marked Madaraka Day — a day meant to celebrate Kenya’s self-rule — Maraga dropped a bombshell: “This is not a time for celebration. It’s a time for soul-searching.”
Maraga drew a chilling parallel between the bloodshed of June 2024 and the very ideals that Madaraka Day stands for — freedom, justice, and self-governance. In a tweet that has since gone viral, he declared June the beginning of a solemn journey of remembrance and reckoning.
“Over sixty young Kenyans were murdered. Dozens remain injured, others were kidnapped — some are still missing. This June, we remember them all,” Maraga wrote.
A Dark Shadow Over Madaraka
The protests that rocked the nation on June 25, 2024, against the controversial Finance Bill, ended in what many are calling a state-sponsored massacre. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) confirmed at least 60 protestors were killed and over 200 injured — yet justice remains elusive.
Only two cases have reached the courts. The rest are stuck in limbo at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Now, a year later, more than 25 grieving families are preparing to march back into the spotlight with a petition to Parliament on June 25, 2025 — a grim reminder of the pain that refuses to fade.
Activist Kidnapped, Civic Tech Under Siege
Maraga didn’t mince words when he addressed the recent abduction of Rose Njeri, a software engineer and vocal opponent of the new Finance Bill. Her crime? Creating Civic Email — a digital platform that allowed citizens to send protest emails to Parliament.
She was seized in broad daylight in South B, bundled into custody at Pangani Police Station, and has been held without charges or bail — a move that has sparked outrage across the country and beyond.
“Arresting a young woman for building a tool to help people speak up? That’s not just unconstitutional — it’s wicked,” Maraga lashed out.
He warned that Njeri’s case represents a broader crackdown on youth voices and civic freedoms, calling it “an insult to the spirit of Madaraka.”
Kenya’s Youth “Have Nothing to Celebrate”
Maraga’s tirade didn’t stop there. In a searing critique of the government, he slammed the leadership for widening economic inequality and pushing the youth to the margins of society.
“The youth of Kenya live in hopelessness. Jobs are scarce. Opportunities are dying. Meanwhile, a select elite thrive in luxury,” he said. “This regime has lost both moral and legal authority to lead.”
He backed the youth-led movement now gaining momentum as Gen Z Revolution Month, pledging to stand with them as they demand a better, fairer Kenya.
“I will walk with Gen Z — every day of this month and beyond — as they fight to reset, restore, and rebuild our country,” Maraga vowed.
A Nation at a Crossroads
June is no longer just a month of independence celebrations. According to Maraga, it’s now a month of national reckoning.
He urged Kenyans to look back to the promise of the 2010 Constitution and reclaim its vision of justice, equality, and true self-rule.
“Let June be the month we realign our nation with the dreams we once believed in,” he concluded.
As Kenya stands on edge, one thing is clear — the spirit of Madaraka is being reborn, not in parades, but in protest.
