Former Chief Justice David Maraga has expressed strong disapproval of President William Ruto’s administration for endorsing several controversial laws, including the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act, 2024.
Maraga, who has declared his interest in running for the presidency, has joined forces with legal experts, civic organizations, and opposition figures preparing to challenge the newly enacted laws before the courts.
During a media briefing in Nairobi, Maraga accused the government of deliberately fast-tracking the enactment of laws that threaten fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.
He argued that the speed with which the bills were signed into law suggested an attempt to evade judicial scrutiny and weaken public accountability mechanisms.
According to him, the new statutes have the potential to erode the principles of separation of powers, transparency, and fair governance.
The former Chief Justice singled out the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act as the most dangerous among the eight laws recently approved by the President.
The law gives government agencies authority to monitor and restrict online activity deemed to spread misinformation or pose security risks.
It further allows the state to access and suspend social media or digital accounts without court approval, a provision Maraga and other critics believe could easily be abused to silence dissenting voices.
Maraga also condemned the Privatisation Bill, 2025, which allows the government to sell state corporations without prior approval from Parliament.
He described the move as an erosion of parliamentary oversight and a direct threat to public interest, noting that state assets could be transferred into private hands without sufficient transparency.
Civil society groups and digital rights advocates have already begun mobilizing legal action to halt the implementation of the cybercrimes law. They argue that it violates privacy rights and restricts freedom of expression.
Maraga indicated that he supports these petitions and is committed to defending democratic values and civil liberties through constitutional channels.
Despite widespread criticism, Parliament maintains that the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Bill underwent public participation before being passed on October 8, 2025, and assented to by the President a week later.
Officials from the National Assembly insist that stakeholders were given adequate opportunity to submit their views.
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