Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga has condemned recent remarks by President William Ruto authorizing police officers to shoot individuals vandalizing property during protests.
In a statement released on Friday, July 11, Odinga referred to the directive as a dangerous departure from the rule of law and warned against granting law enforcement illegitimate and deadly powers over citizens, especially during times of civil unrest.
The former Prime Minister urged the state to uphold due process and resist the temptation to bypass constitutional protections even when dealing with suspected offenders.
“In a protest or any other environment that requires law enforcement, all the above orders, shoot to kill, maim, disorient or shock citizens, are wrong,” Odinga stated.
Odinga stressed the importance of preserving suspects' rights and avoiding extrajudicial measures, advising law enforcers to prioritize arrests and arraignment over killing.
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“We are all better served as a country when we stick to the principle that everyone is innocent until proven guilty; a determination that can only be made by a competent court of law,” he added.
Odinga finally urged the government to abandon the militarized approach to policing, noting that such methods have only escalated violence in other countries across the continent.
“A militarized approach to policing endangers both the suspect and the law enforcement officers,” he affirmed.
Odinga’s statement comes amid growing national and international criticism over the government's handling of recent youth-led protests, with reports of abductions, injuries, and deaths attributed to excessive force by the police.
President William Ruto, while speaking in Kilimani on July 10 during the commissioning of affordable housing projects, directed police officers to shoot individuals destroying businesses in the leg, telling them to “break their legs” but avoid killing them.
The remarks were widely criticized by human rights defenders and opposition leaders, who raised concerns over the escalation of police brutality, even as members of the ruling party supported and seconded the president’s directive.
