‘Shoot in the Leg’: Ruto’s Crackdown on Protesters Sparks Human Rights Alarm

President William Ruto has pledged decisive action against individuals allegedly responsible for orchestrating recent unrest during Monday's Saba Saba commemoration, following widespread disturbances across several counties. 

Speaking on Wednesday at the unveiling of police housing in Kilimani, Dagoretti North, Ruto condemned the violence and property destruction, accusing unnamed political actors of inciting attacks on police facilities and sponsoring vandalism.

The President's remarks come against a backdrop of escalating national tensions over the government's response to civil dissent, with human rights organisations raising concerns about the excessive use of force during protests. 

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reports at least 31 fatalities linked to police confrontations during the recent demonstrations. Ruto asserted that the actions of those who targeted law enforcement represented "war against Kenya," vowing to utilise all available state resources to neutralise the perceived threat and restore stability. 

He has issued controversial directives to the police, encouraging them to shoot perpetrators of property destruction in the legs, a move swiftly criticised by civil society and legal experts as potentially violating constitutional safeguards and international human rights standards.

Addressing opposition efforts to remove him from office before the 2027 election, Ruto dismissed such attempts as illegitimate and urged his detractors to await the democratic process. He also criticised the #RutoMustGo social media campaign, claiming he is held to a higher standard than his predecessors, Daniel Moi, Mwai Kibaki, and Uhuru Kenyatta, and questioning why similar unrest did not occur under their administrations.

Responding to claims that youth unemployment fuelled the protests, President Ruto insisted the problem predated his administration. He cited recent job creation efforts as evidence of progress and accused certain figures of exploiting the frustrations of young people to foment disorder.