Mudavadi: Protest leaders must own up to violence and destruction
By Nancy Marende, July 14, 2025Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi has criticised the organisers of recent anti-government protests, accusing them of failing to take responsibility for the chaos, destruction, and loss of life witnessed across the country.
Speaking at a local TV station on Sunday night, July 13, 2025, Mudavadi expressed concern that protest leaders were remaining faceless while innocent citizens bore the brunt of the unrest.
“The organisers do not want to really identify themselves; they don’t want to come forward and take responsibility. But in the process, innocent people get hurt. Both physically, and i some instances, life is being lost,” he said.
Further, he said that the demonstrations were not only endangering lives but also destroying the livelihoods of ordinary Kenyans who were working hard to provide for their families.
“Other people who are toiling to make a livelihood are having their sweat or proceeds of their sweat being ruined, damaged, and destroyed,” he said.
The CS has also defended President William Ruto’s recent tough stance on violent protestors, saying it was a reflection of deep frustration over the spiralling violence.
“There’s a measure of guilt and hunger that needs to be handled on both sides. This was an expression of frustration by the president, saying that this is getting out of hand. Let’s take it that he was saying, what kind of message do you people want to understand that it is not proper to do certain things” he said.
Ruto’s remarks
President William Ruto has told police officers to shoot in the leg anyone caught looting businesses and vandalising property during protests.
During the commissioning of a police housing project in Nairobi’s Kilimani area on July 9, 2025, the president told officers not to kill but “shoot and break the legs” of any violent protester.
“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, let them not kill, but shoot and break the legs. Destroying people’s property is not right,” he said.