Former Chief Justice David Maraga has called on President William Ruto to release and publish the complete and unedited Report of the National Taskforce on Police Reforms amid cases of police brutality and excesses.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

In a letter to the Head of State on Tuesday, August 18, Maraga said Ruto had only seven days to make the Report public or else he would release it himself.   According to the retired Chief Justice, the report was prepared at public expense and should therefore be made available to Kenyans in line with Article 35 of the Constitution, which provides for access to information.   "In the circumstances, and in view of the fact that the report was secured at public expense, and in line with Article 35 of the Constitution, I demand that you immediately release and publish the complete and unedited Taskforce Report within Seven (7) days, failing which I will myself release it," Maraga stated.

In his letter to Ruto, Maraga said the task force had made recommendations aimed at restoring the independence of the National Police Service and addressing systemic police brutality and impunity.

However, nearly three years have passed since the submission of the Report, and its recommendations have not been implemented.   "Among the recommendations we made in that Report is one requiring you to take appropriate action to restore the Independence of the National Police Service and end the systemic police brutality and impunity. For nearly three years, you have failed to implement the said recommendations and restore the Independence of the Service," the letter further read.

📌 What You Need to Know

It is important to note that Maraga led the task force established by Ruto to review terms, welfare and operational constraints within the National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service, and National Youth Service.

Key focus areas of the task force were looking at better pay, housing, and general working terms for officers, as well as seeking to address policy, administrative and operational hurdles in service delivery.

His demands come amid scrutiny of police officers' conduct, especially in managing recent political rallies, especially for the opposition.

Maraga raised concerns over what he described as organised political violence, goonism and partisan policing in several parts of the country, citing attacks in Homa Bay, Keumbu and Ol Kalou , as well as alleged acts of violence in churches in Kisumu, Nairobi and Witima.

Such incidents, he argued, were contrary to constitutional provisions governing the National Police Service, which require the institution to operate independently in the discharge of its mandate.

"A reading of Articles 232, 239, 244, 245 and Sections 8 and 8A of the National Police Service Act makes it quite clear that the National Police Service is and should be an independent national security organ that should not be directed by any person," Maraga said.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke