“I Do Not Regret Those Comments At All!” – Ruto Says On Shoot-In-The-Leg Order
President William Ruto has justified his directive authorizing police to disable demonstrators attacking government facilities, claiming that the move was intended to prevent unrest and protect national assets.
In an interview with Al Jazeera TV, published on Sunday, November 9, 2025, Ruto denied that his administration uses the police to stifle dissent.
The president stressed that security agents are following the law.
“I do not regret those comments at all because the law allows the police to use force when other people’s lives are in danger,” the Head of State stated.
“The police know what they need to do and understand what is in their purview.”
Ruto stated that his directives were intended to ensure that police respect both demonstrators’ rights and the property and lives of innocent civilians.
Furthermore, the president underlined that the National Police Service (NPS) functions freely, reiterating that his previous comments were not commands but rather an expression of his commitment to maintaining public safety.
“The police are independent, and there is nowhere in the law where I have the power to direct the police,” he stated.
— VeraSiDiva (@Verasidiva) November 9, 2025
In response to these words, some Kenyan media sites produced harshly critical reports about the government, depicting it as heavy-handed and intolerant, particularly in light of the police’s forceful response to demonstrators.
Ruto, on the other hand, urged that the press be free to express its views, even if they differed from his.
“The media are independent, and they write whatever they think they can write. They say all manner of things which I do not agree with, but they have a right to say them,” he remarked.
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Ruto was also asked about recent allegations of police misconduct, such as the killing of teacher and activist Albert Ojawang.
He emphasized his administration’s commitment to upholding discipline and accountability within the police force.
“We have thousands of police officers, and you cannot miss a rogue one,” he explained.
“That is why we have laws to deal with such elements. We will continue to make sure that the majority of the police know what to do.”
“I Do Not Regret Those Comments At All!” – Ruto Says On Shoot-In-The-Leg Order
