Kenyan President William Ruto Wednesday broke his silence on that have left dozens dead.
Ruto said in a speech while touring a site in Nairobi that he would not allow “anarchy” in the country disguised as peaceful demonstrations.
“Anyone going to burn people’s property should be shot in the leg, be hospitalized and later taken to court upon recovery. Do not kill them but break their leg,” he said.
The death toll from Kenya’s anti-government protests on Monday surged to 31, marking the highest single-day toll since demonstrations began earlier this year, according to the state-funded National Commission on Human Rights.
A report released on Tuesday said another 107 people were injured and more than 500 were arrested amid widespread destruction of property, including supermarkets.
Why are Kenyans protesting?
Many Kenyans have been asking for better governance and police accountability, as well as calling for removal of Ruto over alleged corruption.
Clashes broke out between during this week’s round of protests that began Monday, with some supermarkets and businesses either looted, damaged or torched.
“You can call me whatever names you want to call me, but I will make sure there is peace and stability in Kenya by all means,” Ruto said in his speech.
The president also accused his political rivals of aiming to overthrow his government through violence, adding that “anyone who attacks a police station, that is a declaration of war.”
“This is a democratic country, and the citizens are the ones who determine its leadership through an election. We cannot decide leadership through violence,” Ruto said.
Kenya seeing many waves of protests in recent months
Monday’s protests were meant to coincide .
On Monday, police blocked roads leading into central Nairobi in an effort to keep away protesters from accessing the central business district as well as parliament.
Young Kenyans last year had briefly stormed parliament to protest against proposed tax increases, with 60 people having died during those demonstrations.
The demonstrations this year was prompted by the in police custody.
A police officer then shot a at close range during one of the demonstrations, further angering the public.
Then came June 25, when Kenyans took to the streets on the one-year anniversary of anti-tax protests, with with at least 19 deaths.
Ruto is in the third year of his five-year term and campaigned on a platform to help the poor and end extrajudicial killings.
But his government has responded to mounting public dissatisfaction with defiance, with civil society groups calling for more restraint by the police during protests.
Edited by: Wesley Rahn
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