President William Ruto on Wednesday told police officers to shoot in the leg anyone caught looting businesses and vandalizing property during protests.
During the commissioning of a police housing project in Nairobi’s Kilimani area on Wednesday, Ruto told officers not to kill but “shoot and break the legs” of any violent protester.
“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. Yes, let them not kill, but shoot and break the legs. Destroying people’s property is not right,” he said.
He seemed to correct an earlier notion that police were under instructions to shoot and kill those storming police stations.
Ruto warned unnamed political leaders he accused of inciting the youth into violence, saying, “It is leaders financing youth to carry out those acts, and we are coming after you!”
He said attacks on police officers and premises like police stations, such as those witnessed during the June 25 anti-2024 Finance Bill anniversary protests, will be treated as terrorism.
“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. We cannot have a nation run by terror and governed by violence; it will not happen under my watch,” Ruto said.
Protests across Kenya have increased in recent months over growing public discontent against Ruto’s regime over the rising cost of living and a spate of crackdowns on government critics and street protests, many of which have resulted in deaths, injuries, and abductions.
Critics condemn police for brutality and the use of live ammunition on unarmed protesters during the youth-led demos.
At the same time, there have been concerns over the deployment of ‘goons’ – youth groups armed with batons and whips to attack protesters and loot businesses.
From the most recent demos on Monday, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said it recorded 31 deaths and 107 injuries.
Cases of vandalism to business premises were also recorded in several towns across at least 15 counties.
The June 25 protests left over 19 people killed, most by police, per the rights group Amnesty International Kenya. Groups also attacked at least nine police stations, torching at least five, as well as courts and county government offices and vehicles.
Ruto’s Wednesday directive follows similar controversial statements by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen following the June 25 protest violence, in which he told police to shoot anyone who gets near a police station.
Ruto on Wednesday vowed to deal with those plotting to oust him from power unconstitutionally. Ruto said that he will not allow anyone to use violence to remove him from the nation’s top seat.
He dared anyone to attempt the move before the 2027 General Election, noting that he can no longer maintain his silence and “enough is enough”.
“I want to tell those characters giving us lectures that they can change this administration using violence and unlawful means before 2027, let them try,” he said. “This is a democratic nation and Kenyans will choose the nation’s leadership through the ballot. We cannot choose leadership through violence. That is not going to happen in this country.”
The president further fired at his detractors, questioning why his regime is being violently attacked while his predecessors did not receive similar backlash.
“They are telling me about Moi…he was a president, the same way Kibaki was a president, same as Uhuru, so where is all this coming from? That is nonsense!
“Why didn’t they cause chaos during Kibaki’s time or Uhuru’s? Why are you causing this during my time? That needs to stop.”
The vexed president further insisted that he will “use whatever means that is available” to ensure that national security is upheld and those sponsoring violence have been dealt with decisively.
“Those who were found looting people’s businesses will be dealt with by the law, and they will all be arrested and we are going for those sponsoring them,” he said.
“Anyone going to attack a police station in Kenya, that is a declaration of war. It is not acceptable. Enough is enough. I will protect the property and the lives of Kenyans.”
This comes after a series of protests were held across the nation since June 12, 2025, that led to the destruction of businesses, infiltration of politically sponsored goons, and deaths of innocent protesters and civilians.
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