Miguna slams Ruto over shoot-on-leg order
Controversial lawyer and political activist Miguna Miguna has gone full throttle at President William Ruto, accusing him of betraying Kenyans and abusing the Constitution.
Speaking during an interview on a local TV station on Sunday, July 14, 2025, Miguna condemned Ruto’s recent directive to police officers to shoot protesters in the legs if found burning or looting property during demonstrations.
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He decried the move as unconstitutional, excessive, and emblematic of an increasingly authoritarian leadership style that disregards the rights of citizens to express dissent.
“If the so-called democratically elected representatives fail to discharge their duties under the Constitution, as Ruto has done repeatedly and recently by ordering that Kenyans who protest should be shot in the leg, the people have a right to recall in whatever way they deem necessary William Ruto from the position they placed him in 2022,” Miguna said.
Miguna argued that Ruto, who was elected into office on promises of reform, accountability, and empowerment of the people, has instead chosen to suppress public outrage with force and intimidation.
He accused the president of repeatedly flouting the Constitution and failing to uphold the responsibilities of his office. In his view, such failures justify the people’s right to initiate efforts, by any constitutional means they deem appropriate, to remove Ruto from power.
“Ruto cannot begrudge the people for doing that because he has violated every single trust that the people vested in him. William Ruto is supposed to be working for the people, not for himself, and he cannot dictate to the people what they can do under this Constitution,” he added.
Miguna did not hold back in his criticism, accusing the president of turning his back on the promises he made to Kenyans.
“I am saying, William Ruto, you have betrayed the people, you have not honoured your manifesto, you are abusing the people. I, as Miguna, a citizen of the Republic of Kenya, want you to get out of power because you have betrayed the people. I am saying that in 2025, I said that in 2024 and 2023,” he stated.
Shoot on the leg
This comes just days after President William Ruto directed police to shoot in the legs anyone found burning or looting property during protests.
“We want peace in Kenya, people to do business. A person who is going to burn another person’s business and property, such a person should be shot in the legs, taken to the hospital and then to court. They should not kill him, but they should shoot the legs.”
Ruto stressed that the police must not kill innocent civilians but must act firmly against criminals.
“We cannot accept people who burn other people’s property and business. Is there justice there? Police should not shoot citizens to kill, but the criminals should be dealt with,” he said.
