Senator Joe Nyutu demands apology from Ruto over ‘shoot the leg’ remark
By Aloys Michael, July 10, 2025Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu has called on President William Ruto to issue a public apology to Kenyans for his inflammatory remarks and the government’s failure to protect citizens during recent anti-government protests.
“The President should have started by, one, empathising with those who have lost property and apologising that the service was…”
Nyutu, speaking passionately on a local TV station on Thursday, July 10, 2025, condemned the President’s statement about law enforcement using violence, implying a disregard for citizens’ rights and safety.
“The President did not care. some people are financing the protests, no. The president should have apologised that his government, his police officers, were not able to protect the lives and the property of Kenyans,” he said.
He cited specific examples from his constituency, where property was destroyed, and police failed to respond adequately:
“The looting that happened, especially in my county… supermarkets had raised [alarm] about three hours before, the police did not intervene, it was in daylight,” Nyutu said.
Expressing outrage at the lack of protection and subsequent dismissive tone by the President, Nyutu said:
“People lost their lives and property. We are not going to allow that. Why was it allowed in the first place? Who is supposed to protect my life? Who is supposed to protect my property? It is the government.”
He was particularly disturbed by reports of people being attacked in their own homes:
“People who were not even participating in these demos, right in their houses. There was a report of a man who was shot from a toilet!” he wondered.
Nyutu criticised Ruto’s delayed and seemingly reactive stance.
“When the President told us yesterday that ‘enough is enough,’ he was like trying to tell us that the government had now made a statement… That is when the government is going to act against lawbreakers? Why?” he posed.
The Senator also touched on the broader political frustration President Ruto might be facing:
“The President is frustrated and very annoyed. He thought that once he brought Raila Odinga on board. Kenyans would never again demonstrate against the violation of human rights. But Kenyans are still [protesting], the President is annoyed,” he said.
Nyutu maintained that the government must take accountability, apologise, and uphold constitutional rights, especially Article 37, which guarantees the right to peaceful protest.