President William Ruto has fired back at the High Court after Justice Lawrence Mugambi issued a ruling barring the Inspector General of Police from ordering the erection of roadblocks in the Nairobi CBD.
In a scathing response, the president hit back at Justice Mugambi, who declared that the actions of the National Police Service on Monday, July 7, as an infringement on key constitutional rights, including freedom of movement, assembly, and protest as enshrined in Articles 37 and 39 of the Constitution of Kenya.
The Head of State directly addressed Justice Mugambi, slamming the High Court judge for what he described as a disregard for Kenyans' lives and property from a government official who enjoyed the luxury of state-issued security.
"I have seen orders at the court barring the Inspector General of Police from setting up roadblocks and the use of teargas. The person who issued this directive is protected by the police. He has bodyguards who are police officers at home. He is driven by a trained officer, yet he says police should not protect the property of Kenyans," Ruto said on Wednesday.
Ruto also appeared to confirm that the police roadblocks in major arteries leading to the Nairobi CBD on Monday were a deliberate move by the government to quell looting and destruction of property.
He added, "There is a reason why there is a roadblock. There is a reason why police have tear gas. They are supposed to be used to protect the lives of Kenyans when they are in danger."
The High Court ruling on Wednesday followed a petition filed by the Katiba Institute that argued that the police effectively undermined the fundamental rights of Kenyans by restricting access to the CBD on Monday.
In response to the petition, Justice Mugambi ordered the removal of all barbed wire and roadblocks preventing access to the CBD, save for a reasonable and limited perimeter around protected areas.
Besides Justice Mugambi, Ruto was also critical of the recent trend of protests in the country, which have been characterised by skirmishes and running battles with police.
In a rare but direct address of the issue of protests, Ruto faulted unnamed political leaders as the masterminds behind the chaos in the country in recent weeks, as the Head of State alleged a plot to overthrow the government.
Ruto was adamant he would not allow the country to be run down by 'coup-plotters,' as he boldly issued a unique order to law enforcers, urging them to incapacitate goons and attackers of police stations by shooting them in the leg.
“I hear they say they want to use unconstitutional methods to remove me from office before 2027. I want to dare them—they will see the full force of the law,” said Ruto.
“This is a democratic nation, and Kenyans will decide the leadership of this country through the ballot. We cannot change the regime through violence. That is not going to happen in this country.”
