Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has come to the defense of President William Ruto’s recent order on handling violent protestors, insisting that shooting suspects in the leg is not equivalent to using deadly force.
Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, July 9, the CS said the shooting is intended for immobilization and not harm
"Shooting in the leg is not shooting, it is called immobilizing. When a criminal enters your house don’t kill him, shoot him on the leg, immobilize him until the police come. Make sure he doesn’t bleed," he said.
At the same time, Duale framed Ruto's approach as one rooted in maintaining law and order, rather than inciting violence.
"We don’t have a spare country, we have one country. Let us all maintain peace and stability. I want to ask President Ruto, you took a solemn oath to protect the constitution and the rule of law and to ensure there is peace and stability. Deal with the people who want to burn Kenya regardless of their status, including myself," he added.
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Duale’s remarks follow Ruto’s directive to security forces to shoot in the legs those involved in looting and destruction of property during protests.
Speaking earlier Wednesday, Ruto said officers should not use lethal force against ordinary citizens but those who deliberately set out to destroy other people's livelihoods.
"Someone who goes to burn another person's business; someone who takes fire and goes to destroy another person’s livelihood should be shot in the legs, taken to the hospital, and then taken to court,” he said.
Ruto insisted that the intention is not to kill, but to disable and apprehend suspects to face legal consequences.
"They should not be killed, but their legs should be broken so they go to the hospital, and afterward they should be taken to court.
"Police should not shoot and kill ordinary citizens. But criminals, someone who has made it their mission to destroy another person’s business, should be dealt with," he added.
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