Aukot question soundness of President Ruto’s shoot-the leg directive targeting protesters

Thirdway Alliance Party Leader Ekuru Aukot has questioned the soundness of President William Ruto’s shoot-the-leg directive to police against protesters perceived to be vandals at a time the security agents have been accused of deploying excessive force to unarmed picketers.

President Ruto yesterday made the controversial directive targeting those who loot and destroy property during protests.

Speaking during a morning show at a local TV station, Aukot expressed his concerns over the remarks by the Head of State yesterday, accusing the government of manufacturing a narrative of a national crisis to justify harsh crackdowns on citizens.

“I think President Ruto is actually losing it, and he needs to undergo a mental evaluation to determine whether he is okay, as some of the things he is saying as president are concerning,” he said.

“They are now sponsoring a false narrative that there’s a state of anarchy in Kenya, which is why they’re using dangerous phrases like ‘enough is enough,’ ‘shoot to kill,’ and ‘shoot in the leg’,” he added.

While inspecting the ongoing construction of police houses in Kilimani yesterday, Ruto ordered the Police to shoot protesters who near police stations on the leg before taking them to hospitals.

“Anyone who burns down someone else’s business and property, let them be shot in the leg and go to the hospital as they head to court. Yes, do not kill, but shoot and break the legs. Destroying people’s property is not right,” the President ordered.

This is even as he warned political leaders of financing unrest, claiming that they want to overthrow his government.

According to the president, goons who attack officers, loot, and burn police stations are declaring war.

“Those who attack our police, security installations, including police stations, are declaring war. It is terrorism, and we are going to deal with you firmly. We cannot have a nation run by terror and governed by violence; it will not happen under my watch,” he said.

His remarks came a few days after the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had given an order for the police to shoot and kill anyone who approaches a police station.

Murkomen claimed that it was ‘an order from above’

However, the CS was forced to retract his statement after outrage and backlash, saying he was misquoted.