"Shoot Them in the Legs"... What the Kenyan President Said as Anti-Government Protests Spread

Orders for Hardline Crackdown on Anti-Government Protests
Fifty Killed in Demonstrations Over the Past Two Weeks

As anti-government protests in Kenya have grown increasingly intense, resulting in dozens of deaths, controversy has erupted after the President of Kenya ordered a hardline crackdown, instructing police to "shoot protesters in the legs." On July 10, Yonhap News, citing foreign media such as the British daily The Guardian, reported that President William Ruto of Kenya had directed police to incapacitate protesters destroying shops by shooting them in the legs.

William Ruto, President of Kenya. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News

In his speech that day, President Ruto stated, "If someone goes to burn another person's property, do not kill them, but shoot them in the legs and send them to the hospital." He continued, "Those who attack our police, our security personnel, or security facilities including police stations are not only declaring war but also committing acts of terrorism," warning, "We will respond firmly. There can be no country run by terror or governed by violence." He added, "This country will not be destroyed by a few who are impatient and seek to change the government through unconstitutional means."

President Ruto's remarks came just one day after the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights announced that the death toll from anti-government protests had reached 31. At a press conference the previous day, the commission stated that 31 people had died, 107 had been injured, and about 530 had been arrested due to the harsh crackdown on anti-government protests. On June 25, a large-scale protest was held to mark the first anniversary of demonstrations against tax increases, during which at least 19 people died in the crackdown. In the past two weeks alone, 50 people have lost their lives in protests.

The human rights commission criticized the excessive crackdown, noting evidence that police had cooperated with armed gangs during the suppression of protests. In a statement, the commission declared, "We strongly condemn all human rights violations and call for accountability from all responsible parties, including police, civilians, and other stakeholders."

In Kenya, anti-government protests resisting the government's tax hikes, high youth unemployment, police excessive violence, and corruption among senior officials have been intensifying in recent years. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News

In Kenya, anti-government protests resisting the government's tax hikes, high youth unemployment, police excessive violence, and corruption among senior officials have been intensifying in recent years. In particular, on July 7, large numbers of citizens joined protests across the country, including in the capital Nairobi, opposing government corruption, police brutality, and the repression of government critics. July 7 marks the anniversary of a large-scale pro-democracy protest that took place 35 years ago, in 1990, calling for a transition to multi-party democracy in Kenya. In African Swahili, this day is known as 'Saba Saba,' which means 7·7.