In a forceful response to the recent anti-government protests that rocked Kenya, President William Ruto on Wednesday urged police officers to incapacitate—rather than kill—demonstrators who vandalize or destroy property. His remarks follow widespread unrest that left 31 people dead on Monday, as demonstrators clashed with security forces across the country.
“Anyone who goes to burn other people’s property, someone like that should be shot in the leg, and go to the hospital on his way to court,” Ruto said in a public speech.
“They shouldn’t kill the person but they should hit the legs to break them.”
During Monday’s demonstrations, law enforcement sealed off key areas of Nairobi and deployed tear gas, water cannons, and live ammunition to disperse crowds. Several supermarkets, businesses, and even hospitals were damaged, looted, or set on fire in the chaos.
The nationwide protests—largely driven by youth mobilized through social media—have been fueled by rising public frustration over economic hardship, allegations of police brutality, and a sense of political betrayal. Tensions escalated further last month after the death of a political blogger in police custody, reigniting widespread calls for justice and accountability.
Many of the demonstrators have adopted the slogan that Ruto will be a “one-term president,” accusing his administration of failing to deliver on promises of economic reform and social justice. The president, who came to power nearly three years ago on a populist platform as a self-declared champion of the poor, has since come under fire for his government’s hardline stance against civil unrest.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen described the recent wave of protests as a “coup attempt” led by what he labeled “criminal anarchists.”
Alarming reports have also emerged from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, a state-funded watchdog, which said that criminal gangs—armed with whips and machetes—appeared to be operating in conjunction with police in Nairobi and the Rift Valley town of Eldoret. Police have yet to respond to the commission’s findings but have previously denied any collaboration with vigilante groups or “goons.”
Later on Wednesday, Ruto reiterated his position on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating:
“Those who attack Kenyans, police officers, security installations and businesses are terrorists. Such criminal acts are a declaration of war.”
The unrest has also had ripple effects on the private sector. The owner of Afri-Expo, a Kenyan company that produces denim for export, particularly to the United States, announced the dismissal of 200 workers due to the volatile environment and economic uncertainty surrounding U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies.
“We will not allow our country to be destroyed by retrogressive elements that are seeking shortcuts to rise to power,” Ruto declared, signaling an unyielding stance on future demonstrations.
