Edwin Sifuna Explodes on William Ruto for Ordering Police to Shoot Rioters in the Leg: "He Must Go"
- Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna blasted President William Ruto for ordering police to shoot protesters in the legs
- Citing the death of protester Rex Masai, who was shot in the leg, Sifuna warned that Ruto’s directive risks normalising lethal violence under the guise of control
- The ODM secretary-general said Kenya had “lost its way,” accusing Ruto of steering the nation toward authoritarian rule
- Rejecting calls for dialogue, Sifuna insisted that no talks can happen when youth are being shot dead before they even reach 2027
Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna has launched a fierce attack on President William Ruto, accusing him of promoting state violence against citizens and pushing Kenya into dangerous territory.
Source: Facebook
The outspoken lawmaker made the remarks during a heated Senate session on Thursday, July 10, where he took issue with Ruto’s recent directive to police officers on handling protestors.
The president, while speaking at an event in Kilimani, had ordered law enforcement to shoot rioters in the leg as a way to 'immobilise' them, instructing that those injured should then be taken to health facilities under arrest.
Ruto justified the move by suggesting that leg wounds are minor and treatable.
Why did Sifuna call out Ruto?
Sifuna did not hold back his feelings about the directive, reminding the head of state that Rex Masai, a Gen Z protester killed in June 2024, was shot in the leg but didn't survive.
The lawmaker observed that the country was on the wrong trajectory, declaring that Kenya had lost its way.
Sifuna, who also serves as the secretary general of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), said the president’s remarks were not only reckless but also a betrayal of basic human rights.
The lawmaker warned that Kenya had veered off the path of justice and morality.
"A state officer standing and saying you can shoot people as if people don't die from gunshot wounds. We saw Rex Masai, the young man who was killed during the protests, was shot in the leg. How can you tell people to shoot people in the leg as if those injuries are sustainable injuries? We want to make it very clear, as a country, we've totally lost our way," Sifuna said.
The senator’s condemnation comes at a time when tensions remain high following nationwide protests against police brutality and youth disenfranchisement.
Several police stations have been torched in recent weeks as protests turned violent, further fuelling government crackdowns.
The head of state has in recent days maintained a hardline stance, insisting that law and order must be preserved.
Why is Sifuna against calls for dialogue?
But Sifuna believes the president's tactics are part of a broader pattern of authoritarianism that undermines democratic space.
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In a clear break from recent efforts by ODM leader Raila Odinga to encourage national dialogue, Sifuna dismissed the idea of negotiations while the state continues to brutalise those it should protect.
Source: Facebook
Raila, during Saba Saba commemorations, had called for an intergenerational conversation to address the grievances raised by Kenya’s youth.
But Sifuna poured cold water on that idea, saying such talks are futile if the participants are being shot at.
"We will not have a conversation with someone telling us to wait for 2027 when he's not giving us a chance to get to 2027. He's become an existential threat to this country and he must go as soon as possible," he said.
How did UDA MP differ with Ruto?
In a related report, East African Legislative Assembly MP David Ole Sankok has urged Ruto to withdraw the directive.
Sankok warned the order could inadvertently increase the number of Kenyans with disabilities, creating unwanted “competition” for benefits like tax exemptions, nomination slots, and import allowances.
He argued that suspects should be arrested “healthy and physically able” rather than wounded by police.
Sankok has never shied away from bragging about his condition, which he often attributes to his successes in politics and the business world.
He has been nominated twice to parliament and has served in various other positions, including chairing the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD).
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
