Gachagua slams Ruto over shoot the leg order to police
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has strongly criticised President William Ruto over his recent directive to the police to shoot protesters involved in burning police stations, looting, and causing chaos during demonstrations.
Speaking during an engagement session with Kenyans in Seattle on Friday, July 11, 2025, Gachagua said that the president echoed the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen’s orders but in a simplified version.
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In addition, Gachagua said Ruto should not be giving such orders because he swore to protect the lives and properties of Kenyans.
The former DP went on to say that currently, Kenyans are living in fear because of the president’s and Murkomen’s orders.
“As we speak today, there is a lot of fear because of threats of killings. It started with the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who gave orders that police should shoot to kill. As we speak, a burial has just ended in Murang’a for Boniface Kariuki, who was selling masks in the streets of Nairobi, he was shot, and the police officer who shot him yesterday was charged with murder, Murkomen is nowhere to help that officer,” Gachagua said.
“Ruto himself said, ‘No, do not kill them, shoot them in the leg,’ but if you are shot in the leg, you will die because of bleeding. he was simply saying the same thing but in a simplified version, because anyone who is shot is likely to die. That is the president who swore by the constitution to protect life and property but he is issuing orders for people to be shot.”
“And then MP Koech, chair of the National Assembly’s Defence Committee, said the president is wrong for saying ‘shoot in the leg,’ and echoed ‘shoot to kill.'” he added.
Ruto’s orders
This comes after Ruto issued a stern warning to individuals engaging in violent demonstrations, particularly those targeting police officers and stations, declaring such actions acts of war against the Republic of Kenya.
Speaking from Kilimani on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, the head of state said that any individual who attacks a police station or assaults law enforcement officers will face severe consequences under the full force of the law.
“Anyone who picks up petrol to burn someone else’s business or any other person’s property, such a person should be shot in the leg, taken to hospital, and then presented in court,” he said.
“And I want to tell Kenyans clearly anyone who attacks a police officer, anyone who invades a police station,n that is a declaration of war in the Republic of Kenya. I do not know if we are understanding each other, my friend. Enough is enough. It cannot go on any longer.”
