‘Ruto Must Go? Then Tell Me How’: President Defiant After Deadly Nairobi Protests

President William Ruto is firmly defending his leadership in the wake of deadly protests that recently swept across the country.

He rejects the opposition demands for his resignation and denounces the demonstrations as calculated attempts to destabilise the nation. His remarks, delivered during World Medium and Small Enterprises Day celebrations at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, frame the protests as "economic sabotage," and he urges his political rivals to pursue legitimacy through democratic means rather than through street demonstrations.

These assertions come in the wake of widespread unrest on 25 June, which left at least 16 people dead, over 400 injured, and resulted in significant damage to public infrastructure, including nine police stations and three courthouses. The government is currently facing mounting pressure from protestors and opposition groups rallying under slogans such as "Ruto Must Go" and "Wantam," advocating for his removal after a single term in office. Ruto is adamant that any change of leadership must adhere to constitutional guidelines.

President Ruto says, "If you want Ruto to go, please, my simple advice to you: look for a better plan." He reiterates that Kenya's Constitution already outlines presidential term limits, allowing for a maximum of two terms. "You can serve one term, or two terms maximum. You cannot have more than that. So what is this craze about terms?" he questions.

The President argues that the solution to Kenya's economic and political challenges lies not in premature demands for leadership change, but in strategic planning and national unity. He is inviting his critics to engage voters with policy alternatives, saying, "If you can persuade us that you have a better plan than mine... I can also go and concentrate on farming and help in food security. But don't burn the country, for heaven's sake. We do not have another country."

He warns that the ongoing civil unrest threatens to unravel the nation's stability and further damage its economic foundations. Echoing the President's sentiments, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said during an engagement in Kitui that the government is prepared to face political backlash in defence of national security. Kindiki describes the 25 June riots as direct assaults on the state that must be confronted with unyielding resolve, rather than just civil disobedience. 

Ruto expresses sympathy for families affected by the violence, acknowledging the loss of lives and destruction of businesses, yet directs law enforcement to pursue all those involved in orchestrating the chaos. According to the President, the demonstrations deviated sharply from constitutional expressions of dissent and morphed into coordinated efforts aimed at paralysing governance. 

Kindiki draws an even sharper line, equating the attacks on police stations and the theft of firearms with acts of terrorism. He warns that any attempt to usurp state power through unlawful means will be dealt with as harshly as Kenya confronts extremist threats such as al-Shabaab.