President Ruto on Wednesday condemned the violence that ensued during the Saba Saba protests, which resulted in deaths and the destruction of property.
While addressing the public during the launch of the Police Housing Project at Kilimani Police Station in Nairobi, the head of state criticised the violent demonstrations that have been plaguing the nation in recent weeks.
He urged the police to shoot goons in the leg so that they can be taken to court and face further repercussions. “Anyone going to burn businesses and private property should be shot in the leg, taken to hospital, then to court. They should not be killed, but their legs should be shot so they can go to hospital and then to court,” he said.
He also condemned individuals who were using youth unemployment as a justification for inciting unrest. “There are people agitating the youths to destroy property, businesses, and private property in the name of joblessness. I want to ask you: will jobs be found if supermarkets and businesses are burnt?”
Ruto stated that his government has provided 320,000 housing units across 200 projects nationwide, 180,000 digital jobs, and 400,000 overseas job opportunities. He emphasised that unemployment has been a long-standing issue, not one that began with his administration.
“There are people who make it seem like all youths had jobs before I became president. You want to tell me this issue of unemployment began when I got into power? Isn’t it an issue that has been present for a long time?”
He also claimed that some individuals were pushing a tribal agenda, and questioned why such chaos did not occur during the Kibaki or Uhuru eras. “All this chaos—why didn’t it bother Kibaki? Why didn’t it bother Uhuru? Let us sort out our problems. Let’s avoid tribalism, hate, and disrespect. We are all Kenyans, and there is no superior Kenyan over another.”
The president further accused unnamed individuals of planning to overthrow the government illegally by sponsoring chaos. He warned that anyone intending to vandalise government facilities or private businesses would be dealt with by “all means necessary.”
“Anyone who goes to assault the police; anyone who goes to burn police stations—this is a declaration of war in Kenya. It is not acceptable. Enough is enough.”
These statements follow the nationwide disruption during the 35th anniversary of the Saba Saba protests, which led to further deaths and destruction. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) released a new report indicating that the death toll from the protests had risen to 31.
Many families have been left in mourning, questioning why their loved ones had to die—some of whom were reportedly not even involved in the demonstrations.
– By Anthony Mwangi
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