By Spy Uganda
Kenyan President William Ruto has issued a stern warning to the youthful protest movement shaking his administration, vowing legal action against demonstrators he accuses of inciting chaos, attacking police officers, and destroying property during last Wednesday’s nationwide protests.
In his first major address since the unrest, Ruto labelled the demonstrators “criminals,” brushing aside growing domestic and international concern over the government’s heavy-handed response, which left at least 11 people dead — including students — and scores injured.
“What happened on Wednesday was not a peaceful protest. It was an attack on the foundations of law and order,” Ruto said on Saturday while meeting regional and county security administrators at State House, Nairobi. “Criminals who attacked our officers and destroyed property in the Wednesday mayhem will be held to account.”
The president’s remarks come in the wake of the country’s largest youth-led protests in recent years, driven by deepening public anger over a new wave of taxation proposals viewed as oppressive by much of Kenya’s younger population, many of whom are grappling with high unemployment and rising living costs. The protests, organized under the banner of “Gen Z Uprising,” rocked major cities including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru.
The demonstrations coincided with the anniversary of last year’s protests over similar tax hikes, intensifying pressure on the Ruto government, which came into office promising to uplift the “hustler” class — ordinary Kenyans struggling to make ends meet.
Ruto, however, struck a defiant tone, saying his administration would not allow any individual or group to endanger police officers or destabilize the nation.
“If a policeman’s life is in danger, then how can our families be safe? This trend must change,” he said. “We will stand by every man and woman in uniform and protect them as they discharge their duties.”
He further praised the Kenya Defence Forces for their “unwavering commitment” in protecting national security, hinting at the administration’s readiness to deploy military personnel to curb further unrest if needed.
While the president maintains the government must ensure law and order, civil society actors, opposition leaders, and human rights groups have condemned the government’s response to the protests, calling it “brutal and disproportionate.”
Kenya’s independent human rights watchdog has launched investigations into the killings and mass arrests that followed the demonstrations, warning that the right to peaceful assembly is enshrined in the constitution and must be respected.
Despite the threats of a crackdown, online mobilisation by Kenya’s Gen Z community continues to grow, with fresh protests reportedly being planned via social media. Organisers say they are determined to hold the government accountable and demand a complete overhaul of the tax policies affecting the poor.
As tensions escalate, President Ruto faces a critical choice: embrace dialogue with Kenya’s youth or double down on repression. Either path will significantly shape the legacy of his presidency and the political future of a nation on the edge.
