President William Ruto on Wednesday issued a tough warning to individuals involved in violent demonstrations, urging police to use force selectively by shooting attackers in the leg.
“Anyone deciding to storm a person’s business or a police station should be shot in the leg. Thereafter, they can go to court and see what follows next,” Ruto said while addressing officers during the launch of the Police Housing Project at Kilimani Police Station in Nairobi.
The Head of State, visibly agitated, lashed out at unnamed individuals he accused of sponsoring chaos and protests across the country in recent weeks, warning that the government would no longer tolerate attempts to destabilise the nation.
“I have been quiet, and I have tolerated these people who want to change the government using unconstitutional means—but enough is enough,” Ruto stated.
“We will not allow it. We are coming for you,” he added. “Those plotting to remove me from office before 2027 must know we will not let them destroy this country through unconstitutional means.”
Ruto said the continued attacks on police stations, officers, and public property amounted to a declaration of war, which the state would respond to with full force. “Anyone attacking our police officers, police stations, or installations is effectively declaring war. We will not tolerate it. We cannot run a country ruled by terror or chaos,” he said.
He further appealed for mutual respect between citizens and state institutions, stating that law and order must be upheld. He warned that those hiding behind protests to commit criminal acts would be dealt with accordingly.
Ruto maintained that it was unfair for some individuals to use youth unemployment as a justification for inciting unrest. He argued that the challenge of youth joblessness existed long before his presidency and affirmed that his administration was actively working to address it.
Additionally, the Head of State stated that there were individuals who were pushing tribalism agendas to destabilise his government, vowing not to entertain them.
“Moi, Kibaki, and Uhuru Kenyatta were all presidents before me. So what's all the fuss about? Why are all these problems being brought to me? Why didn't Kibaki and Uhuru get this kind of treatment? Let's end all the contempt and tribalism,” Ruto added.
The President’s remarks come amid growing national tension as youth-led protests against government policies continue to spread across the country, with calls for accountability and reform intensifying.
The sentiments are expected to generate a lot of legal debates, especially in the context of respect and promotion of human rights, which have been subjected to abuse in recent months. The death toll from the Saba Saba Day protests on Monday, July 7, had risen to 31, according to a new report by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
KNCHR Vice-Chairperson Dr Raymond Nyeris released a statement on Tuesday, July 8, confirming that by 7pm, the commission had documented more deaths and arrests across the country from the protests.
