Ruto Slams High Court Judge After Police Roadblocks Ruling
President William Ruto has shot back at the High Court after Justice Lawrence Mugambi ruled that the Inspector General of Police cannot order the installation of roadblocks in Nairobi’s central business district.
In a harsh response, the president slammed Justice Mugambi, who concluded that the National Police Service’s conduct on Monday, July 7, violated important constitutional rights.
This includes the freedoms of movement, assembly, and protest guaranteed by Articles 37 and 39 of Kenya’s Constitution.
The Head of State addressed Justice Mugambi directly, chastising him for failing to protect Kenyans’ lives and property as a government officer who benefited from state security.
“I have seen orders at the court barring the Inspector General of Police from setting up roadblocks and the use of teargas. The person who issued this directive is protected by the police,” Ruto said on Wednesday.
“He has bodyguards who are police officers at home. He is driven by a trained officer, yet he says police should not protect the property of Kenyans.”
William Ruto goes after the Judge who gave out unfavourable ruling to his government pic.twitter.com/arrXTON3pR
— The Kenya Times (@thekenyatimes) July 9, 2025
Ruto also appeared to acknowledge that the government’s decision to place police barricades in main arteries heading to the Nairobi CBD on Monday was intended to prevent looting and property destruction.
He added, “There is a reason why there is a roadblock. There is a reason why police have tear gas. They are supposed to be used to protect the lives of Kenyans when they are in danger.”
The High Court decision on Wednesday followed a challenge brought by the Katiba Institute, which claimed that the police effectively violated Kenyans’ fundamental rights by barring access to the CBD on Monday.
In response to the petition, Justice Mugambi ordered the dismantling of all barbed wire and obstacles that prevented access to the CBD, with the exception of a reasonable and limited boundary around protected locations.
In addition to Justice Mugambi, Ruto criticized the country’s recent trend of rallies, which have included skirmishes and running confrontations with police.
In a rare but direct reference to the matter of protests, Ruto blamed unnamed political elites for the chaos that has gripped the country in recent weeks, alleging a plot to overthrow the government.
ALSO READ:
- Kenya Met Issues Weekly Weather Forecast, Warns Nairobi & Neighbouring Counties
- Kenya Warns Its Citizens In South Africa As Anti-Immigrants Demos Pick Pace
- UDA Senator Tables Motion To Scrap Uhuru Kenyatta’s Perks As Recent Phonecall Sends Jitters To Ruto
- Alarm As WHO Announces Deadly Virus Outbreak On A Cruise Ship
- Passport Application Falls By 37% After Gov’t’s Quiet 50-Page Option Removal
Ruto was sure that the country would not be run down by ‘coup-plotters,’ and he boldly issued an unusual order to law enforcement officers.
He instructed them to kill criminals and attackers of police stations in the legs.
“I hear they say they want to use unconstitutional methods to remove me from office before 2027. I want to dare them—they will see the full force of the law,” said Ruto.
“This is a democratic nation, and Kenyans will decide the leadership of this country through the ballot. We cannot change the regime through violence. That is not going to happen in this country.”
Ruto Slams High Court Judge After Police Roadblocks Ruling
