Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga has issued a strongly worded statement condemning President William Ruto’s directive to police officers to shoot protesters in the legs if they attack businesses during demonstrations.
In a statement released by his secretariat on Thursday, Odinga described such orders as “wrong, illegitimate, and deadly,” warning that they violate the principles of the rule of law and human rights.
“In a protest or any other environment that requires law enforcement, all the above orders—shoot to kill, maim, disorient, or shock citizens—are wrong,” Odinga stated.
He urged the government to prioritize arrest and legal prosecution over the use of force, asserting that every suspect is innocent until proven guilty and deserves to be treated with dignity.
“Let’s prioritize arrests and arraignment in courts over killing, maiming, or brutalizing of suspects. This preserves the dignity and respects the human rights of suspects,” he added.
President Ruto’s comments came amid rising public unrest over tax hikes and governance concerns. During a televised address earlier this week, the President directed security forces to use live fire to incapacitate protesters targeting private property, instructing officers to “shoot them in the legs, not to kill but to stop them.”
Odinga, in response, warned that militarizing the police only escalates violence and endangers both civilians and officers.
“A militarized approach to policing endangers both the suspect and the law enforcement officers,” he wrote, citing examples from across the continent where such tactics led to deadly escalations.
The statement adds to growing public outcry from civil society, human rights organizations, and legal experts concerned about Kenya’s drift toward excessive force in managing protests.
