Raila stands firm against orders to shoot protesters
By Luke Oluoch, July 12, 2025Raila Odinga has reiterated his objection to the recent orders to shoot protesters issued by President William Ruto and his Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.
Speaking on Saturday, July 12, 2025, during a burial function in Bomet County, Raila opined that the order emanated from anger occasioned by the recent happenings in the country.
“Right now, there is darkness in Kenya because we are angry. There is also a lot of hatred in our nation. People are fighting and getting killed. When you see someone say shoot but don’t kill, it’s because of anger, but anger always leads to loss. It’s why we said, Do not shoot, just make arrests and take them to the courts instead of shooting to kill,” he stated.
The ODM leader has, however, challenged protesters on how to go about picketing, noting that demonstrations must be undertaken for a specified cause.
He specifically reflected on how their demos in 1990 clamour for multipartyism were focused on the objective of establishing multipartyism in the country.
“But we said everything has its time and season. So we had a time when people came out to go to the streets for protests. But these demonstrations are not an end to themselves and should not be undertaken every day. They should be a means to an end and must have what it aims to achieve,” he added.
Raila’s sentiments come after Boni Khalwale urged President Ruto and Murkomen to rescind recent directives that appear to endorse the shooting of protesters, warning that such actions threaten the lives and future of Kenya’s youth.
Speaking during a public event in Butere constituency on Friday, July 11, 2025, Khalwale expressed strong opposition to remarks made by the president and CS Murkomen suggesting police should shoot violent demonstrators found destroying property during protests.
Khalwale urged the government to treat young people with dignity rather than criminalising them.
“We don’t kill people. That is why I would like to respectfully disagree with CS Murkomen. I also disagree with the President. These children — if a child has eaten to satisfaction, they cannot go stealing from your home. The government must listen to our youth,” he said.
Concerns raised
He questioned Murkomen’s logic behind directing law enforcement to shoot individuals near police stations, highlighting scenarios in which young people might approach police for legitimate reasons, such as reporting crimes or seeking opportunities during recruitment drives.
“What if a young person goes to the police station to file a report that their motorbike has been stolen — and then you say shoot to kill? Where will they take that report? he posed.
The senator concluded by urging Ruto to reconsider the implications of such directives.
“That is why I want to tell the President very peacefully and with a lot of respect: the future of this country is our youth. And these youth, we must nurture them,” he said.