NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto has forcefully defended his controversial directive to police to use force against violent demonstrators, including shooting them in the leg, stating he has “no regrets” over the comments made during recent anti-government protests.
Speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera, President Ruto addressed the order, initially issued on July 9, 2025, following a demonstration that resulted in the deaths of at least 65 people.
“I don’t regret those comments at all because the law allows the police to use force when other people’s lives are in danger,” President Ruto said.
Balancing protest rights and public safety
The Head of State differentiated between what he termed “genuine demonstrators” and “criminal elements” who participated in looting and the destruction of property during the protests.
“And the public went up in arms because they said these are not protests. This is looting, this is criminality. And we have had to balance. The police have had to balance between dealing with violent criminals on one end and also managing protests,” Ruto said.
The President reiterated the directive he issued during the commissioning of a police housing project in Nairobi’s Kilimani area, which targeted individuals involved in property destruction:
“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,” the Head of State said.
However, when pressed on the statement, Ruto insisted that it was not an order to the Police force, arguing that the police operate independently: “I think the police know what they need to do. And the police, by the way, understand that it is within their purview,” he said. “That is why when I came into office, I ensured that the police were independent. The police carried out their responsibilities independently.”
Defending free press and extrajudicial killings
President Ruto dismissed allegations of government interference with media coverage of the unrest, citing critical headlines such as “Rogue Ruto” in The Standard newspaper as proof of a vibrant and free press in Kenya.
“The media is independent in Kenya. They write all manner of stuff. I think what you’ve just said, rogue, is one of the mildest. They say all manner of things about me,” Ruto said.
“They are also free to lie and to churn out falsehood. I mean, it’s up to their conscience to write the right thing. But the people of Kenya ultimately will make an assessment of who has exceeded, who has not, who has done the right thing, who has not.”
On the matter of the death of blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody, Ruto confirmed that the officers involved were arrested and prosecuted.
“And that is why the police who are involved in that particular incident today are behind bars,” he stated. “We have a police force of 110,000; you will not miss elements within the police who are rogue. When we identify the rogue ones, we deal with them.”
Also Read: At least 11 dead, dozens injured in Kenya’s Saba Saba Day protests
Furthermore, the President outright rejected claims from human rights groups that more than 80 government critics and protesters disappeared in 2024 and 2025, maintaining that his administration has successfully ended extrajudicial killings.
“I can tell you none of those people. I have told them. I have told people who claim that so-and-so has disappeared to step forward and tell the country who are these, when were they abducted,” he stated. “Today, there are no incidences of Kenyans that are executed. I committed to the country that I would stop it, and I did.”
Commitment to governance and anti-corruption
Addressing his performance, President Ruto maintained that he has fulfilled his campaign promises on jobs, education, and healthcare. He defended his record on corruption by citing the passage of the Conflict-of-Interest Bill earlier this year.
“I did sign the law that prohibits public officers to participate in doing business with government,” he said.
“I think I have hired the most judges than any president in three years to make sure that the criminal justice system, the judiciary, is properly enabled to deal with all manner of issues, especially corruption.”
