Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has strongly criticized President William Ruto over his controversial directive instructing police officers to shoot protesters who vandalize property in the legs. Kalonzo described the statement as a dangerous and unconstitutional move, equating it to a de facto shoot-to-kill policy.
Speaking during a live interview on a local television station on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, the former vice president said the president’s remarks could escalate tensions and result in more civilian casualties amid ongoing anti-government demonstrations.
“When he says what Murkomen suggested—about shooting people outside police stations—is now official, and he adds that they should be shot in the legs, I ask: how do you shoot someone precisely in the legs? There’s something fundamentally wrong with the president,” Kalonzo stated.
He further accused Ruto of betraying his oath to uphold the Constitution, claiming the president has become a threat to national security.
“I say this with full responsibility: the president has turned into a national security risk. That’s a weighty statement. How can someone who swore to defend the Constitution be the one encouraging actions that clearly defy it?” he asked.
Use of Lethal Force Questioned
When asked to respond to clarifications that the order was to “shoot to maim,” Kalonzo dismissed the distinction as meaningless, pointing to real-world outcomes where live ammunition has led to injuries and deaths.
“How can anyone guarantee maiming instead of killing? There was a case in Karatina—a gym was shot into—and several others have been harmed because police are using live bullets. Saying ‘shoot them in the legs’ is just another way of saying ‘shoot to kill,’” Kalonzo explained.
He stressed that the president’s directive violates the constitutional right to life and warned that the excessive use of force by state security agents could push the nation into deeper political and social crisis.
“With that statement alone, the president has shifted from being the head of state to a threat to the nation’s safety,” Kalonzo reiterated.
“This is no longer politics as usual. It’s a grave situation, and the country is at serious risk.”
