The National Assembly Defence Committee chairperson, Nelson Koech, claims that the police should actually "shoot to kill" and not "shoot to injure," as suggested by President William Ruto, goons who try to infiltrate protected areas during protests.
Speaking during a public gathering on Thursday, June 10, the Belgut lawmaker claimed that the police should use their firearms to dispense maximum force against "criminals" who dare to compromise the security of key government infrastructures, such as Parliament and the State House.
The MP further said that the police should use their weapons to protect themselves in a situation where their lives or that of Kenyans is in danger, as stipulated in the constitution.
"I want to appreciate the president for what he did, but he said that the police should shoot but not kill, but I would like to say that the police should shoot to kill, because there is no way a police officer should just wait for someone to come and threaten him and his family and tell me that you can't shoot to kill," Koech said.
"The constitution, through the police act, has given the police the power to use their arms where they have evaluated that their lives are in danger. The people who have been terrorizing people are not ordinary people, because if someone claims that he is going to the statehouse, he is a criminal," he added.
Furthermore, Koech asserted that the government is in the process of apprehending any individual who facilitated the destruction of property and loss of lives during the recent protests.
Despite setbacks, President William Ruto's administration will remain unshaken in its mission of service delivery to Kenyans, according to the MP.
"I hear people saying that this government will only be here for one term, but I want to assure you that we will do everything possible to ensure that we remain in power for two terms. At this point, everyone should ensure that the country has peace and not violence," Ruto said.
Speaking in Nairobi, during the launch of the Police Housing Project at Kilimani Police Station, President Ruto directed the police to shoot in the leg any goons and later take legal action against anyone who engages in violence and destruction of public and government property during protests.
In a heavy tone, the Head of State claimed that the government will also no longer tolerate unnamed individuals whom he accused of sponsoring chaos and protests in the country.
“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,” the head of state said.
During Monday's Saba Saba demonstrations, the National Police Service (NPS) confirmed that at least 31 people had lost their lives, while 63 individuals, both police and civilians, sustained injuries.
A total of 567 people were arrested during the protests across the country, according to the police in a statement on Monday, July 7.
