Gladness Gideon
President William Ruto of Kenya has sparked outrage after directing security forces to shoot protesters in the legs as a means of incapacitation, following the killing of 31 people during anti-government demonstrations earlier this week.
Speaking in Nairobi on Wednesday, Ruto issued his harshest condemnation yet of the growing wave of protests, accusing demonstrators of engaging in terrorism and waging “war” against the state.
The protests, which have gained momentum over the past two months, are fuelled by frustration over economic stagnation, corruption, and police brutality.
“They shouldn’t kill them,” Ruto said. “But they should shoot their legs so they break, and they can go to hospital on their way to court.”
His remarks come amid mounting national and international condemnation of Kenya’s security forces, whose violent crackdown on protesters has resulted in at least 51 deaths since May, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
On Monday alone—coinciding with Saba Saba Day commemorations—31 demonstrators were killed and 107 others injured in protests across the country.
Ruto accused his political opponents of orchestrating the unrest in an attempt to destabilize his government through unconstitutional means.
“Those who attack our police, those who attack our security men and women, those who attack our security installations, including police stations—that is a declaration of war, that is terrorism,” the president declared.
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“We are going to deal with you firmly. We cannot have a nation that is run by terror.”
Saba Saba Day, observed annually on July 7, marks a pivotal moment in Kenya’s political history when citizens rose up in 1990 to demand a return to multiparty democracy after years of autocratic rule under then-President Daniel arap Moi.
Among the dead is a 12-year-old girl who was struck by a stray bullet in her home in Kiambu County, just outside the capital. UNICEF condemned her killing and the arrest of children during the protests, calling on authorities to uphold the rights and safety of minors.
“Children must be protected from harm at all times and under all circumstances,” the UN agency stated.
Ruto’s latest comments have drawn widespread criticism from human rights groups and opposition leaders, who accuse his administration of embracing authoritarian tactics in response to legitimate public dissent.
Despite the president’s hardline stance, protesters have vowed to continue their demonstrations until their grievances are addressed.