NAIROBI —In a hard-edged address that has stirred fresh controversy, President William Ruto has told Kenyan police officers to shoot protesters in the leg not kill them if they’re found looting or vandalising property during demonstrations.
“Anyone who burns down someone else’s business and property, let them be shot in the leg and go to the hospital as they head to court,” Ruto said on Wednesday. “Yes, let them not kill, but shoot and break the legs. Destroying people’s property is not right.”
The President made the remarks while launching a police housing project in Kilimani, Nairobi, just days after renewed street protests turned violent across parts of the country.
His comments come in the wake of widespread unrest tied to opposition to the 2024 Finance Bill a movement led largely by Kenya’s youth, known as the “Gen Z” protesters. Demonstrations have been held in multiple towns, often met with a forceful police response.
Rights groups report worrying trends. According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, 31 people have died and 107 have been injured during recent protests. Many of the victims, witnesses say, were unarmed. Amnesty International Kenya reported at least 16 people killed on June 25 alone, allegedly most by police bullets.
Besides live fire incidents, the government has also faced criticism for reportedly deploying armed civilian groups often called “goons” to disrupt protests, beat up demonstrators, and loot shops. Videos of these alleged attacks have spread quickly online, further inflaming public outrage.
Yet the President appears to be doubling down. He warned that youth involved in violent acts were being financed by unnamed political leaders and he did not hold back.
“It is leaders financing youth to carry out those acts, and we are coming after you!” Ruto said, though he offered no names or evidence.
He went on to equate attacks on police officers and security installations to acts of terror.
“Those who attack our police, security installations, including police stations, are declaring war. It is terrorism, and we are going to deal with you firmly,” he said. “We cannot have a nation run by terror and governed by violence; it will not happen under my watch.”
His words echoed similar directives from Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who last month told police officers:
“Anyone who gets near a police station, shoot them. Why should someone who wants to steal firearms be spared? Firearms are not doughnuts!”
This increasingly aggressive tone from the government has sparked concern among rights advocates, clergy, and political observers who warn that Kenya may be drifting toward a dangerous cycle of repression and retaliation.
One Nairobi-based civil society organiser, who asked not to be named for safety reasons, said: “It’s frightening when leaders start issuing shoot-to-injure or shoot-to-kill orders. These are young people demanding to be heard, not criminals.”
On Monday, protests erupted again in over 15 counties, with reports of property damage in several towns. Some demonstrators attacked police stations and set fire to public buildings including county offices and court premises. At least five police stations were torched.
About the Author
