Kenya: President Ruto says 'anarchy' will not be tolerated – DW – 07/09/2025
Kenyan President William Ruto Wednesday broke his silence on anti-government protests 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 Kenya 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.
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 police officers and protesters 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.
Monday's protests were meant to coincide with the 35th anniversary of major pro-democracy protests.
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 death of a blogger in police custody.
A police officer then shot a street hawker 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 protests having turned violent 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.
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Kenya's Gen Z protestors face trauma amid ongoing rallies – DW – 07/10/2025
As Kenya's youth keep pushing for political and social change, they risk paying a steep personal price. From clashes with police to constant fear of death, emotional trauma and anxiety have become their new realities. On June 25, 2025, Wendy, a young Kenyan woman, joined hundreds of demonstrators in Nairobi to protest the death of Albert Ojwang — a 31-year-old blogger and teacher who had just recently died in police custody. It was a bold decision on her part, one that came with much fear and uncertainty amid a growing government crackdown on dissent. "Initially, I wasn't going to show up because I was a little bit scared. They said they were targeting women this time," Wendy told DW. In the end, she returned home safely. But others didn't. At least 19 people were killed nationwide during the protests held on that day, whihc coincided with the first anniversary of last year's storming of Kenya's parliament. 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To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Irene Mwari, a university student and regular protester in Nairobi, agrees that the emotional price that young people have to pay keeps growing. "Once I go to a protest in Kenya, I don't really know whether I'll come back home," Mwari told DW. Yet she feels driven by a desire to speak out against what she calls poor governance, even though each protest can become a gamble with her life. Despite promising her parents that she would stay away from future demonstrations, Mwari admits she has no intention of keeping her word. "At the end of the day, we are the ones who have to live in Kenya with such bad governance. So, if we don't fight for a better future, I don't know who will." The protests have grown increasingly dangerous over time. Kenya's National Commission on Human Rights reported that 31 people were killed during the July 7 "Saba Saba' protests alone — making this the deadliest single day of rallies this year. More than 100 were injured, more than 500 arrested; countless supermarkets and other businesses were looted or destroyed. The commission has accused police of using live ammunition and collaborating with armed gangs to suppress these protests, and Mwari agrees. "If you're lucky enough you escape being shot. The government has used guns to disrupt peaceful protests. If they don't beat you up, you'll get robbed in broad daylight." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Mental health professionals in Kenya meanwhile also stress that the protests are no longer just a political matter — they've become deeply personal, and therefore are emotionally draining for many. "We are experiencing collective trauma," says Kenyan psychologist Benta Wambui. "Many young protesters are experiencing chronic stress and anxiety because of repeated exposure to violence. There is also emotional exhaustion, and sometimes there can be burnout and a growing sense of hopelessness," she adds, underscoring the fact that the prolonged nature of the standoff between civilians and authorities, now lasting well over a year, can make such symptoms worse. Geoffrey Mboya, a youth activist and community organizer, has been on the frontlines of the demonstrations from the beginning, initially getting involved in opposition movements two years ago already. He says the emotional toll has changed him permanently: "[The protests have] affected me in ways that I don't think I'll ever fully be able to articulate," he told DW. "I have lost part of myself." Wambui notes that even those who are not physically present at protests are affected by the overall mood. 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3 days ago
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Kenya: President Ruto says 'anarchy' will not be tolerated – DW – 07/09/2025
Kenyan President William Ruto made his first public remarks since deadly anti-government protests broke out this week. He said that "anyone going to burn people's property should be shot in the leg." Kenyan President William Ruto Wednesday broke his silence on anti-government protests 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 Kenya 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. 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 police officers and protesters 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. Monday's protests were meant to coincide with the 35th anniversary of major pro-democracy protests. 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 death of a blogger in police custody. A police officer then shot a street hawker 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 protests having turned violent 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. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
DW
4 days ago
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Kenya protests: 31 die in highest one-day death toll of year – DW – 07/08/2025
The death toll from anti-government protests in Kenya surged to 31, which is the highest one-day death toll since protests began this year. The protests this year were fueled by a blogger's death in police custody. The death toll from Kenya's anti-government protests on Monday has surged to 31, marking the highest single-day toll since demonstrations began earlier this year, according to the state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. The report on Tuesday said another 107 people were injured and more than 500 were arrested amid widespread destruction of property, including supermarkets. The figure did not include specifics and it was not clear whether the toll included police officers, who the report accused of working with armed gangs in the wake of violence. Kenyans have been protesting for weeks to call for better governance and police accountability, as well as demanding the removal of President William Ruto over alleged corruption. Kenyans yesterdaytook to the streets to demand political reforms on a day — July 7 — that has significance in history because of major pro-democracy protests that took place on the same date thirty-five years ago. The East African nation transitioned into a multiparty democracy from a one-party state with elections in 1992. During protests yesterday, police blocked access to central Nairobi so people couldn't rally in the city center, as they had done before. Young Kenyans last year had briefly stormed the parliament in Nairobi during protests over planned tax hikes, which were ultimately withdrawn. Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, on Tuesday urged that grievances leading to the protests are addressed, with his spokesperson saying Turk "renews his call for calm and restraint, and full respect for the freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly."
