Maraga claims IG Kanja, DCI boss Amin are holding office illegally

While highlighting flaws in the enforcement of the reforms on Monday, Maraga argued that Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and the Director of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohamed Amin are illegally occupying their offices after crossing the age limit for public servants.

According to the United Green Movement Party (UGM) co-leader, the two have crossed the 60-year retirement age requirement and their tenure has been sustained by President Ruto's administration.

"The law on age was bent. Section 81 of the Public Service Act, 2017, retired pubic officers at 60. Section 82 allows a contract extension only for rare skills the service cannot find," Maraga noted.

"What rare skills do they hold that other senior officers do not? Neither were they chosen by open competition? And the result is that they both occupy their offices illegally."

He further accused the administration of turning a blind eye to the reforms underlined in the task force he led, saying all legal parameters have since been breached.

The task force was established to identify legal, policy, administrative, institutional and operational challenges affecting the effective delivery of services by the three institutions. 

It was also tasked with reviewing the welfare, terms and conditions of service for their personnel.

The presidential hopeful added that police appointments to the public service have not been meritorious and transparent, arguing the Security Law Miscellaneous Amendment Act 2014 tore the safeguards out.

"That is not reform, it is capture. The taskforce equally called it so and termed it unconstitutional (the Act). It demanded the fresh vetting and appointment of officers from the rank of senior superintendent of police. That request was ignored," he said.

He argued that the appointments should not be under the purview of the President, nor should the appointment of the Director of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

Maraga reckoned that the irregularities have encouraged the national security organs to be partisan and have supported the interests of some political causes, alleging that some have prejudiced legitimate political interests.

"Look at the harvest. Organised political violence and partisan policing in Homa Bay and Ol Kalou. Blood in churches in Kisumu, Nairobi and Witima all under the president's watch and for obvious political benefit," he said.

The ex-CJ therefore demanded the full implementation of the taskforce recommendations, warning of dire ramifications as the nation gears up for the 2027 General Election.

He also recommended a complete overhaul of the National Security organs, urging fair competition and appointments made on merit to streamline national security.