KENYA - Kenya’s president on Wednesday broke his silence on recent anti-government protests that left dozens dead, urging police to “break the legs” of those who stole and burned property during the demonstrations.
President William Ruto said “enough is enough” and that he would not allow “anarchy” in the country disguised as peaceful demonstrations. “Anyone going to burn people’s property should be shot in the leg, be hospitalised and later taken to court upon recovery. Do not kill them but break their leg,” he said while touring a site in Nairobi for one of his administra-tion’s affordable housing projects. Weeks of protests have rocked Kenya after a blogger died in police custody last month, angering many Kenyans. Tensions heightened after a police-man shot a civilian at close range during one of the demonstrations against police brutality. Thousands turned out for protests on June 25, which coincided with the one-year anniver-sary of huge anti-tax protests.
On Monday, police erected roadblocks on all roads leading to the city centre in the capital, Nairobi, blocking motorists and pedestrians deemed not to be in essential work. Police clashed with protesters on the outskirts of the city and in 17 of 47 counties across the country, leaving 31 people dead and more than 100 injured. More than 500 others were ar-rested. A total of 50 people have died in the past two weeks during two separate waves of demonstrations. The UN high commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk, on Tuesday urged that the grievances leading to the protests are addressed. (Jamaica Gleaner)