On Wednesday, Kenya's president addressed the recent anti-government protests that resulted in numerous fatalities. He emphasized that he would not permit "anarchy" to take root under the guise of peaceful demonstrations.
President William Ruto declared that "enough is enough" and encouraged police to aim for the legs when dealing with individuals involved in looting and setting businesses on fire.
Weeks of protests have shaken Kenya following the death of a blogger in police custody last month, sparking outrage among many Kenyans.
Tensions escalated following an incident where a police officer shot a civilian at close range during one of the protests against police brutality.
On June 25, thousands of people participated in protests that marked the one-year anniversary of major anti-tax demonstrations.
On Monday, police set up roadblocks on all routes heading to the city center in Nairobi, restricting access for motorists and pedestrians who were not involved in essential work.
Police confronted protesters on the city outskirts and in 17 out of 47 counties nationwide, resulting in 31 fatalities and over 100 injuries. Additionally, more than 500 individuals were arrested.
Fifty individuals have lost their lives over the past two weeks amid two distinct waves of demonstrations.
On Tuesday, Volker Türk, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, called for addressing the grievances that led to the protests.
Ruto asserted on Wednesday that the dissatisfaction was driven by political motives and stated he would not permit any destruction of property.
"You can call me any names you like, but I am committed to ensuring peace and stability in Kenya by all means," Ruto stated.
The president sternly warned his political opponents, accusing them of attempting to violently overthrow his government.
Ruto stated, "A handful of impatient individuals seeking to change the government through unconstitutional means will not destroy this country. That is not going to happen."
Repeatedly, civil society groups have urged the police to exercise restraint during demonstrations.
Five police officers were recently charged in court regarding the death of a blogger while in custody and the close-range shooting of a civilian.
Deputy Police Inspector General Eliud Langat, who had lodged a complaint regarding the blogger's social media posts accusing him of corruption, has stepped aside while investigations are ongoing.
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