Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has responded to President William Ruto‘s order in which he directed police officers to shoot suspects attacking or vandalizing property during protests in the legs.
In a statement on Friday, July 11, Raila said that in a protest or any other environment that requires law enforcement, all the orders to shoot to kill, maim, disorient, or shock citizens are wrong.
“As a country, we must at all times opt for the rule of law and due process and reject the temptation to give police illegitimate and deadly powers over citizens even when the citizens are perceived to have broken the law,” he said.
“We are all better served as a country when we stick to the principle that everyone is innocent until proven guilty; a determination that can only be made by a competent court of law.”
President Ruto earlier in the week directed police officers to shoot in the legs anyone caught looting businesses and vandalizing property during protests.
During the commissioning of a police housing project in Nairobi’s Kilimani area, the President told officers not to kill but “shoot and break the legs” of any violent protester.
Raila responds to Ruto’s “shoot them in the leg” directive
He further warned unnamed political leaders he accused of inciting the youth into violence.
“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.
“It is leaders financing youth to carry out those acts, and we are coming after you!”
Also Read: Ruto Orders Police to Shoot Kenyans in the Leg
According to Ruto, attacks on police officers and premises like police stations 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 added.
However, Raila in his statement maintained that the government should prioritize arrests and arraignment in courts over killing, maiming or brutalizing of suspects.
The former Prime Minister explained that this preserves the dignity and respects the human rights of suspects while at the same time confers credibility to the actions of the State.
“As a country, we should do everything avoid the militarized approach to policing. Examples from around the continent show that such an approach only increases risk of violence,” Raila added.
“A militarized approach to policing endangers both the suspect and the law enforcement officers.”
Fatalities and injuries from protests
Protests across Kenya have increased in recent months over growing public discontent against the Kenya Kwanza administration over the rising cost of living and a spate of crackdowns on government critics.
Also Read: How Traders Were Left Counting Millions in Losses After Saba Saba Chaos
Most of the protests have resulted in deaths, injuries, and abductions, with critics condemning police for brutality and the use of live ammunition on unarmed protesters during the youth-led demonstrations.
At the same time, there have been concerns over the deployment of armed youth groups, ‘goons’, to attack protesters and loot businesses.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) said it recorded 31 deaths and 107 injuries from the most recent demos on Monday in which vandalism cases targeting business premises were also recorded in several towns across at least 15 counties.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
