William Ruto Dares Gen Z to Overthrow Him: "Wajaribu Watajua Hawajui"
- President William Ruto dared unnamed rivals to try to overthrow his government, warning about what would ensue
- The head of state accused some Gen Z protesters and political leaders of plotting chaos to force regime change
- Ruto ditched his usual conciliatory tone, vowing to crush any attempt to seize power before the 2027 General Election
- His warning followed weeks of nationwide youth-led protests demanding reforms and condemning state brutality
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Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
President William Ruto has issued a fiery warning to those he believes are plotting to destabilise his government.
Source: Facebook
The head of state ditched his past appeals for calm and dialogue, boldly daring them to attempt an overthrow before the 2027 General Election.
Ruto delivered his comments laced with defiance and unmistakable authority during the launch of the Police Housing Project at Kilimani Station in Nairobi on Wednesday, July 9.
In a speech that left no room for doubt about his stance, Ruto directly addressed unnamed political actors and a section of young Kenyans, many from the vocal Gen Z protest movement, who he claimed were threatening to remove him from power outside the electoral process.
"I want to speak to these desperate leaders. I saw some of them claiming that they won’t wait for 2027 to vote. That they want to incite chaos, to organise protests, burn people’s property, cause havoc in Kenya just so they can overthrow the government before 2027.
"I want to tell them, let them try. They’ll find out they know nothing! Go on, try it! This is Kenya, a democracy, my friends!" Ruto declared in a firm and confrontational tone.
His remarks come amid a wave of youth-led demonstrations across the country, sparked by alleged frustrations over governance and police brutality.
Gen Z protesters have taken to the streets and social media in recent weeks, demanding accountability and sweeping political reforms.
While most of the movement has maintained a non-violent stance, the government appears increasingly wary of what it sees as attempts to escalate the protests into a wider rebellion.
How will Ruto leave office?
Ruto, who has faced criticism over his administration’s handling of the protests and state response to dissent, made it clear that any effort to seize power through unconstitutional means would not be tolerated.
"Kenya is a democratic country. You cannot come and tell us that you’re going to cause unrest to topple the government. Be serious! I don’t know if we’re understanding each other," Ruto stated.
Without naming specific individuals, Ruto appeared to lump together political actors and radical youth voices who have been vocal, accusing them of inciting unrest.
"I want to address those fellows giving us lectures, saying they’ll change this administration through illegal means, through violence, before 2027. Let them try! Are we together? Yes, let them try," Ruto warned.
Source: Twitter
The president reaffirmed Kenya's constitutional order, insisting that change in leadership must come through the ballot, not chaos.
"This is a democratic nation, and it’s the people who decide leadership at the ballot. We cannot decide who leads Kenya through chaos, through war, or by destroying other people’s property. That’s not going to happen in this country," the president explained.
Did Ruto order police to shoot protesters?
Earlier, Ruto ordered the police to “shoot in the legs” anyone caught looting or vandalising businesses during the protests, not to kill, but to incapacitate before arrest.
He defended the directive as necessary to protect livelihoods and maintain peace amid widespread unrest that has seen sit‑ins turn violent, with scores of commercial losses.
The president emphasised that the aim is to restore order and allow businesses to continue operating, warning that the state will not tolerate the destruction of property and will enforce accountability through swift legal action.
The president's statement attracted widespread criticism from Kenyans, who equated it with empowering the police to use lethal force without consequences.
Opposition leaders, led by former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, criticised the head of state, saying he was harbouring vengeance against innocent protesters.
They threatened to sue the president and top police officers at the Hague for allegedly committing crimes against humanity and other related offences.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
