In a televised interview on November 9, 2025, President William Ruto made remarks that reignited the discussion on state force and accountability in Kenya.
Ruto stated that he did not regret his “shoot the leg” order, which he made during the Saba Saba protests earlier that year. He declared, “I do not regret those remarks at all because the law permits the police to use force when other people’s lives are in danger.”
He said a few minutes later, “There is nowhere in the law that allows me to order the police… The police are independent, and there is nowhere in the law where I have the power to direct the police.” These remarks highlighted the conflict between executive authority and institutional independence during times of unrest.
The directive’s source
During demonstrations commemorating the momentous Saba Saba movement, the directive was initially published on July 9, 2025. At Kilimani, Ruto discussed instances of property damage. “Anyone who picks up petrol to burn someone else’s business or any other person’s property should be shot in the leg, taken to hospital, and then presented in court,” he said.
Attacks on police stations were described by him as acts of aggression. “And I want to tell Kenyans clearly: anyone who attacks a police officer, anyone who invades a police station, that is a declaration of war… Enough is enough. It can’t go on any longer,” he declared, adding that he was carrying out his constitutional duty to safeguard people and property.
The directive came after riots brought on by economic hardship and widespread public anger. Protests against the Finance Bill, which included planned taxes on basic commodities, resulted in rallies in 2024 in which demonstrators broke into Parliament on June 25.
According to rights organizations, protests in June 2025 caused additional casualties, including 16 fatalities and more than 400 injuries. Amnesty International and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights recorded at least 63 deaths and more than 500 injuries in 2024. The killing of a 12-year-old girl in Kiambu during the riots was condemned by UNICEF. Human Rights Watch data shows 51 fatalities throughout two months of rallies in July 2025.
Replies from leaders
On September 18, 2025, former Chief Justice David Maraga paid a visit to Kenyatta National Hospital and told reporters that he encountered demonstrators there who had been injured and had their “lives stalled by these injuries.” He called the order “outrageous and violation of our Constitution” in a post, referencing Articles 26 through 29. “These young men have spent 3 months in excruciating pain with their lives on hold,” he said.
In a statement made on July 11, 2025, former Cabinet Secretary of Public Service Justin Muturi also condemned the directive. He called it “a command so reckless, so dismissive of human life” and connected it to demands for aggressive policing. He said that the instruction seemed to be aimed at “criminalizing protest while weaponizing the police.”
The late Raila Odinga issued a statement calling instructions to “shoot to kill, maim, disorient, or shock citizens” to be “wrong” and in violation of constitutional safeguards. “William Ruto’s order to shoot on the leg will be repealed by Rigathi Gachagua,” former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said in Nyeri on September 14, 2025. In the midst of the turmoil, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi also called for moderation.
According to Human Rights Watch, there has been little accountability for reported fatalities connected to protests. Only a few prosecutions have been made public by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority. The families of the victims, such as the families of teacher Albert Omondi Ojwang and seller Boniface Kariuki, have urged that justice procedures be expedited.
Victim compensation and ongoing discussion panel
The Panel of Experts on Victims’ Compensation, led by Prof. Makau Mutua, has experienced legal opposition and hurdles. Since 2024, rights groups have recorded more than 180 fatalities related to protests. Prior to compensation, several politicians have demanded a formal apology.
“The media… are free to lie and channel falsehoods,” Ruto has retorted. They are them. In order to address societal issues, human rights groups have emphasized the significance of transparency, oversight, and legal recourse.
As Kenya tackles issues of public order, constitutional rights, and state authority, the discussion surrounding the directive goes on.
