President William Ruto has called for clarity in distinguishing lawful actions from criminal activities to ensure that neither state agencies nor individuals misuse their roles.
Speaking in Parliament during the State of the Nation Address on November 21, 2024, Ruto emphasized the critical need to uphold the rule of law to protect democracy while ensuring public safety and security.
He stated that cases of violent criminality through protests threaten the safety of innocent citizens, public assets, private property and the social order.
“Criminals and subversive elements who infiltrate and hijack peaceful protests are a threat both to legitimate protestors and the public,” he said
Ruto also addressed the need to safeguard citizens’ rights and maintain peace in the nation.
“The tension here is stark, we have a democracy which we are proud of, must defend and should defend by all means and at the same time we have citizens whose lives and rights we must protect and as a nation whose security stability and prosperity we must safeguard,” Ruto said.
“It should not be possible for robbers and looters to escape accountability by claiming they were taking part in a protest,” he stated, adding that law enforcement officers must also be held accountable.
“Likewise, it should not be possible for security officers to wound, maim, or even kill citizens and claim they were engaging violent criminals,” Ruto said.
The President underscored that adherence to the rule of law is the only way to properly apportion accountability.
“It is only by following the law that we can achieve our aims and apportion accountability properly,” he said.
He urged both citizens and security agencies to uphold this principle to safeguard democratic expression and ensure public safety.
“We all have to make the necessary distinction and to do so clearly to protect Democratic expression and guarantee public safety and security,” Ruto said.