President William Ruto 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.
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