Kenyan President William Ruto has come under intense criticism from Amnesty International following his controversial statement urging police to shoot violent protesters “in the leg.” This comes amidst a surge of deadly anti-government demonstrations that have rocked the country, especially over the past week, during which at least 38 people lost their lives, according to human rights organizations. This marks the highest death toll in a single day since the beginning of the youth-led protest movement against the Ruto administration.
Amnesty International’s Kenya Director, Irungu Houghton, labeled the president’s comments as “unlawful” and warned that such statements could incite further violence. “It is extremely dangerous for politicians to instruct police officers on how to police protests,” he said. Houghton emphasized that Ruto’s remarks risk aggravating tensions and could lead to more violent confrontations between protesters, police, bystanders, and opportunistic criminals.
Recent protests reached a critical point during Saba Saba Day on July 7, 2025, a symbolic date in Kenya’s democratic history. In anticipation of unrest, police had already blocked several major roads in Nairobi. Demonstrators, defying the heavy security presence, chanted anti-government slogans and set up barricades using vehicles and burning tires. Clashes quickly turned violent.
While the police have denied claims of collusion with armed groups or using excessive force, a report by the Police Reforms Working Group—a coalition that includes Amnesty International and other human rights organizations—contradicts this stance. The group documented a disturbing pattern of state violence during recent demonstrations, including the use of live bullets on unarmed protesters, extrajudicial killings, disappearances, and arbitrary arrests. The report estimated that over 500 people, including both civilians and police officers, had sustained injuries.
The National Police Service dismissed the allegations as a “false narrative.” However, Kenya’s Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen acknowledged reports of police misconduct and pledged that all instances of excessive force would be investigated. He reiterated that no legal justification exists for police officers to commit crimes or take lives unlawfully. Murkomen also announced plans to introduce a new policy directive on the appropriate use of force and firearms by law enforcement officers, expected to be unveiled on Friday.
According to the interior ministry, over 1,500 individuals were arrested in connection with the last two rounds of protests, with 71 currently being processed by the anti-terrorism unit. The unrest has also had severe economic repercussions, with widespread looting, business closures, and an estimated loss of 1.1 billion Kenyan Shillings (approximately $14 million), although the report did not provide further economic analysis.
As international criticism grows—including calls for restraint from the United Nations—Kenya remains deeply polarized. The nation faces a growing challenge in balancing democratic freedoms with law enforcement, especially amid a population increasingly disillusioned with the government.
