Kalonzo, Muturi Push for Ruto’s Impeachment Over Protest Killings

Public outrage over alleged police brutality and controversial executive directives has spurred opposition leaders to intensify their calls for President William Ruto's resignation or impeachment. 

The latest demands emerge following the burial of Boniface Kariuki, a 22-year-old hawker shot dead during protests in Nairobi. Kariuki's death, captured on video and widely shared, has become a focal point for opposition figures and civil society groups demanding accountability. The shooting occurred amidst protests, and Kariuki, who was selling masks to support his family, was allegedly targeted by a police officer. 

Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Democratic Action Party head Eugene Wamalwa, and former Attorney General Justin Muturi has criticised Ruto’s directive authorising police to "shoot-on-the-leg" looters and protesters, which they argue sanctions extrajudicial killings, violating constitutional protections. Musyoka questions the administration’s ethics, asking whether "shooting youths and killing them aimlessly—is this what you are calling a good job?"

Muturi asserts that the President’s actions merit criminal prosecution, saying that "if we had an independent Parliament, the President should have already been sent home." 

Wamalwa warns that the executive’s stance undermines democratic norms and endangers citizens. The emotional impact of Kariuki's death was highlighted by his mother, Susan Njeri, who recounted her final conversation with her son, emphasizing that he was not involved in the demonstrations. 

Members of Parliament, including James Gakuya and Jane Kihara, have criticised the government for failing to address unemployment, inflation, and systemic injustice. They argue that the reliance on force indicates a broader failure of governance. Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata adds that defending constitutional principles is a civic duty.