Kenya: President William Ruto Vows to Punish ‘Dangerous Criminals’ Behind Tuesday’s ‘Treasonous’ Protests

Kenya’s President William Ruto used his Tuesday night address to assure the nation of his government’s resolve to restore order following protests in which at least five people were killed and over 120 others injured.

The ‘Occupy Parliament’ protests were an expression of Kenyans’ disapproval of the Finance Bill 2024, detailing taxes that they are opposed to. The protests intensified after MPs passed the controversial bill, which now awaits President Ruto’s assent.

Protests breached the barricades outside Parliament before accessing the buildings of the legislative arm of the Kenyan government and setting a section of the same on fire.

Western countries have condemned the violence and abduction of protesters, noting that they were “deeply concerned by allegations” of the same. Through their envoys, they urged restraint and dialogue. They backed Chief Justice Martha Koome’s criticism of the abductions.

“We are deeply concerned by the violence witnessed in many parts of the country during the recent protests, and are especially shocked by the scenes witnessed outside the Kenyan Parliament. We regret the tragic loss of life and injuries sustained including by the use of live fire,” their statement read in part.

“We welcome civic engagement by all Kenyans, in particular the youth, in addressing issues of vital public concern. We call for restraint on all sides, and encourage all leaders to find peaceful solutions through constructive dialogue.”

Before Ruto’s address, Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale issued a gazette notice for the deployment of the country’s army, Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to deal with protests following Tuesday’s events.

Relying on Article 241 (3) (b) of Kenya’s constitution, CS Duale’s June 25 notice heralds heavy deployment as KDF bolsters the National Police Service.

“The Kenya Defence Forces is deployed on the 25th June, 2024 in support of the National Police Service in response to the security emergency caused by the ongoing violent protests in various parts of the Republic of Kenya resulting in destruction and broaching of critical infrastructure,” the  gazette notice read.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) said “the purported deployment of KDF is illegal [because] “Article 241 of the Kenyan Constitution states that this deployment can only happen after the approval of the National Assembly, which has not happened.”

In his address, Ruto described some protesters as “dangerous criminals” and their actions as “treasonous.” He made it clear they would not go unpunished. He promised “a full, effective and expeditious response to [Tuesday’s] treasonous events.”

“… I hereby put on notice the planners, financiers, orchestrators and abettors of violence and anarchy, that the security infrastructure established to protect our republic and its sovereignty, will be deployed to secure the country and restore normalcy,” he said.

“It is not in order or even conceivable that criminals pretending to be peaceful protesters can reign terror against the people, their elected representatives and the institutions established under our constitution and expect to go Scot-Free.”

Here’s President Ruto’s full address following Tuesday’s protests:

Today, Kenya experienced an unprecedented attack on its democracy, rule of law and the integrity of its constitutional institutions.

An otherwise legitimate expression of the fundamental rights and freedom of assembly, demonstration, picketing and petitioning of public authorities, by a section of law-abiding citizens of the Republic of Kenya, was infiltrated and hijacked by a group of organized criminals.

Most regrettably, today’s attack on Kenya’s constitutional order has resulted in the loss of life, destruction of property and desecration of the institutions and emblems of our sovereignty.

Today’s events mark a critical turning point in how we respond to grave threats to our national security.

I assure the nation, that the Government has mobilised all the resources at the nation’s disposal to ensure that a situation of this nature, will not recur again, at whatever cost.

I thank our security officers who were on duty today for applying themselves to the best of their abilities, in the defense of Kenya and its people.

Accordingly, I have directed all the organs of our national security to deploy all measures to thwart any attempts by dangerous criminals to undermine the security and stability of our country.

As the people of Kenya go to bed tonight, I give you my assurance that your security, that of your families and property, remains my utmost priority.

To the young people of Kenya who I must thank for helping our country organize our democratic discourse around issues, I thank you and assure you that the conversation that you have begun around pertinent issues of our nation, will continue to inform our policy and governance decisions.

As I promised on Sunday, this conversation will not be in vain. I will not only champion for the cause of issue-based, policy-oriented and tribe-less conversations on critical national issues, but also provide a framework for this conversation to be processed and its outcomes implemented.

However, our national conversations on any subject matter must be conducted in a manner that respects and honours the foundational values upon which our nation is established, namely, constitutionalism, the rule of law and respect for institutions.

It is painful for Kenya that a conversation this crucial, was hijacked by dangerous criminals who have caused us the kind of loss we have incurred as a nation today.

It is possible that the criminals who reigned terror on innocent people and attempted to challenge our law enforcement deployments are still determined to continue with their dangerous behaviour.

As I assure the nation of the government’s determination to fulfill its constitutional duty of protecting the people of Kenya against all forms of harm, I hereby put on notice the planners, financiers, orchestrators and abettors of violence and anarchy, that the security infrastructure established to protect our republic and its sovereignty, will be deployed to secure the country and restore normalcy.

It is not in order or even conceivable that criminals pretending to be peaceful protesters can reign terror against the people, their elected representatives and the institutions established under our constitution and expect to go Scot-Free.

We must isolate crime from democratic expression and separate criminals from people exercising the freedom of expression and divergent opinion.

I shall continue to lead a government that is fully committed to maintaining the integrity of our state, promoting the unity of our nation and enhancing the peace and security of all citizens and their livelihoods. I am bound under sacred constitutional mandate to respect, uphold and defend the constitution of Kenya, which declares that all sovereign power belong to the people, and that this power shall be exercised only in accordance with the constitution.

The government will therefore uphold its constitutional mandate to secure our nation and its development, and shall treat every threat to national security and the integrity of our state as an existential danger to our Republic. Accordingly, I assure Kenyans that we shall provide a full, effective and expeditious response to today’s treasonous events.