(NAIROBI) – Kenyan President William Ruto has taken a hard stance against recent violent protests that erupted across at least 17 counties during the Saba Saba commemoration, warning that those behind the unrest will face the full force of the law.
Speaking on Wednesday at the launch of a police housing project in Kilimani, Dagoretti North, the President accused unnamed political figures of sponsoring the chaos that saw businesses looted, police stations attacked and lives lost. He declared that attacking law enforcement infrastructure amounted to declaring war on the Kenyan state.
“I have been silent, I have been patient with them, but enough is enough,” President Ruto said. “Those who attacked police officers and stations have declared war against the Republic of Kenya. It is unacceptable.”
He accused some politicians of funding the protesters and warned that the government would pursue and apprehend them.
“You cannot sponsor violence in Kenya and expect to go scot free,” he said, adding that authorities would use all means available to restore stability and prevent the undoing of development gains.
The President went further to direct security officers to incapacitate rioters who attempt to burn businesses, stating they should be shot in the legs and later taken to court.
“Anyone setting out to burn another person’s business or property should be shot in the leg, hospitalised, and later taken to court. Don’t kill them, but ensure their legs are broken,” he said in Swahili.
His comments sparked immediate reactions across social and political spaces, including concern over the potential increase in police brutality. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) recently reported that at least 31 people were killed during the protests.
President Ruto also dismissed calls from opposition leaders and online campaigns demanding his resignation before the next general election in 2027. He challenged those pushing for regime change outside the ballot to try, insisting that Kenya remains a democratic country governed by the rule of law.
“They will know that they don’t know. Let them try. This is a democratic country and those who believe they can change the government through violence or unlawful means before 2027. Let them try,” he said.
He questioned why his administration was being targeted while former presidents Daniel Arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki, and Uhuru Kenyatta did not face similar public hostility.
“Moi was the President of Kenya, just like Kenyatta, Kibaki and Uhuru. Why this hostility? Why didn’t they do this to Kibaki or Uhuru?” he asked.
The President also addressed concerns over unemployment, particularly among the youth, saying the issue predates his administration. He claimed that in under two years, the Kenya Kwanza government had created more employment opportunities than previous regimes.
“There are people trying to incite the youth to destroy property and burn businesses, saying they are protesting due to unemployment. Did unemployment start with this regime?” he asked.
President Ruto’s remarks have added fuel to an already heated political atmosphere.
111 Suspects from Saba Saba Protests Released on Bail
One hundred and eleven individuals arrested during the Saba Saba protests have been released on bail, each set at KSh 50,000 (approximately USD 387 or SSP 1.8 million), as legal proceedings begin.
The charges against the suspects include public disturbance, vandalism and unlawful assembly during demonstrations held across at least 17 counties on Saba Saba Day. Many were detained following violent clashes with police, which resulted in attacks on shops, police stations and other public amenities.
