Katiba at 15: Civil society groups question State’s sincerity as Kenya marks Katiba Day

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Civil society groups used the inaugural Katiba Day at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on Wednesday to call out what they termed hypocrisy in government’s handling of the Constitution.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), joined by more than 20 organisations, said the day must not be reduced to a political showcase.

They warned that State organs have repeatedly undermined the very charter they were now celebrating.

“The Constitution belongs to the people, not to those who betray it,” their statement read.

KHRC cited delayed county funding, disobedience of court orders, and weakening of independent institutions as evidence that leaders are eroding gains made since 2010.

Ms Shakira Wafula, a youth activist who gained prominence during recent Gen Z protests, said Katiba Day should be about ordinary Kenyans who continue to defend freedoms on the streets and in communities.

“We are the ones who feel the weight when the Constitution is ignored. This day must belong to the people,” she said.

Human rights defender Mr Boniface Mwangi urged leaders to stop “using the Constitution as a prop for political speeches” while undermining its values in practice.

Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo added that fidelity to the Constitution is measured not by declarations, but by daily actions of state officers.

KHRC said this year’s theme, “Inuka Uilinde” (Arise and defend the Constitution), should remind citizens that defending constitutionalism is their daily duty.

Inside KICC, President William Ruto presided over the first national observance. He formally declared August 27 to be marked every year as Katiba Day, in honour of the 2010 Constitution.

The Head of State described the charter as “a living instrument” that had transformed governance, entrenched devolution, and expanded rights and freedoms.

He urged Kenyans to preserve and protect it.

President Ruto clarified the day will not be a public holiday, but will be commemorated across schools, State offices, and communities through civic education, and public forums.

“This is not a day of idleness,” Dr Ruto said. 

“It is a working day of reflection and re-commitment to the values of our Constitution.”

Chief Justice Martha Koome welcomed the new tradition, saying it would encourage Kenyans to reconnect with the spirit of 2010.

“The Constitution is only as strong as our fidelity to it,” she said.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula urged MPs to pass laws aligned with constitutional values.

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi stressed the importance of protecting devolution, saying it remains one of the most important legacies of the 2010 reforms.

While the government struck a celebratory note, civil society groups insisted the commemoration must go beyond speeches.

For them, Katiba Day is already a people’s tradition--observed through civic action and public mobilisation since 2010.

As the first Katiba Day drew to a close, Kenyans were left weighing two(2) narratives--a State celebrating constitutional gains, and citizens warning that those gains risk erosion without accountability.