Ruto puts religious leaders on the spot over encouraging violence
President William Ruto has put religious leaders on the spot for what he terms encouraging the young people to commit acts of violence disguised as legitimate protest.
Speaking during a function to observe World MSME Day on Friday, June 27, 2025, in Nairobi, Ruto observed that violence witnessed during the protest would soon be replicated in several other areas, and that there would be no country to live in.
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“I want to ask the religious and political leaders who are encouraging this movement towards violence, chaos and anarchy. What is your plan? You are telling these young people to burn the place, cause violence. So that what happens?” Ruto asked.
Spiral out of control
“If we continue that way, they will finish with the small enterprises in downtown, they will move and will be in Kileleshwa, Lavington, Karen, and shortly, we will not have a country. I don’t know whether that is the direction we want to go.”
He persuaded the organisers of protests to resist the propensity to hate leaders, observing that such hatred, if left unchecked, could lead to violence.
“If you hate the leaders, hate brings conflict, conflict brings violence, and violence is not a solution to unemployment and the challenges that Kenya is facing,” Ruto remarked.
“If your strategy is anchored on hate for other people and for leaders, how are you going to provide a solution for our nation?”
Offer alternative solutions
He challenged leaders to offer working solutions instead of encouraging the youth towards rebelling against the government.
“I have tried to listen to the people organising demonstrations and they have said they love Kenya but hate the leaders, they have said something about one term, and they have also said Ruto must go,” Ruto said.
“If you truly love Kenya as you say, don’t burn your country. Don’t be part of the problem, figure out how we are going to get solutions.”
During his speech, Ruto equally affirmed that his government would go after the perpetrators of violence, which saw several shops broken into and looted. Several government installations, like a court and police stations, were also razed.
