President William Ruto has ordered the National Police Service(NPS) and other security agencies to take action against politicians financing, recruiting or organizing goons to disrupt political meetings and intimidate opponents ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during the police recruit pass out parade in Kiganjo, Nyeri on Friday, August 28, Ruto said security agencies must go beyond arresting young people found carrying weapons and pursue those behind their recruitment, transportation and financing.
He warned politicians against using young people to cause violence or disrupt political activities, saying no political objective could justify violence.
“Politically sponsored violence has no place in our democracy,” Ruto said.
Ruto Orders Police to Go After Politicians Funding Goons
The President said those who finance, organize, incite or participate in political violence should face the law regardless of their political connections.
“Do not arrest only the young people holding a weapon while allowing the person who recruited, transported, and paid them to escape responsibility,” he said.
He said politicians who finance or organise violence must also be held accountable.
“No politician is entitled to a private militia. No candidate has the right to intimidate citizens. No political objectives can justify violence,” Ruto said.
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Police Directed to Protect Protest Rights Ahead of 2027 Election
Ruto said political parties must be allowed to organize freely and candidates must be able to campaign, while citizens should have the freedom to assemble, listen, question, criticize and choose their leaders.
He tasked the police with protecting the democratic space and ensuring that Kenyans can exercise their constitutional rights without intimidation or violence.
The President also reminded security officers of Article 37 of the Constitution, which protects the right of every person, peacefully and unarmed, to assemble, demonstrate, picket and present petitions to public authorities.
However, he said the constitutional right to protest does not extend to criminal acts such as arson, looting, assault, intimidation or destruction of public and private property.
“The responsibility of the police is to distinguish between peaceful democratic participation and criminal conduct,” Ruto said.
He warned officers against criminalizing legitimate dissent while allowing violence to take place under the cover of political activity.
Ruto said security agencies must secure the 2027 election without compromising the democratic freedoms that the election is meant to protect.
Ruto Warns Police Against Corruption and Abuse of Authority
He urged police officers deployed across the country to remain impartial and resist attempts to influence them in the execution of their duties.
“Wherever you are deployed, you must remain disciplined, impartial, incorruptible, protect the vulnerable, treat every citizen with dignity and reject every inducement to compromise your duty,” he said.
Ruto also cautioned officers against corruption, bribery, collusion with criminals, excessive use of force and abuse of authority, saying such conduct undermines public confidence in the police service.
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He praised police officers who continue to serve in difficult and dangerous conditions, including those involved in rescuing citizens, responding to emergencies, confronting armed criminals and protecting communities.
Ruto said public trust would remain one of the police service’s most important assets, noting that citizens are more likely to report crime, share intelligence and cooperate with investigations when they have confidence in the police.
He said Kenya’s democratic order must protect both liberty and public safety, with police officers playing a central role in maintaining that balance.
Ruto urged political leaders to make the 2027 election a contest based on ideas, policies and leadership rather than intimidation, hired gangs or ethnic mobilization.
He said Kenyans should be allowed to freely and peacefully choose their leaders.
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