- The President said it his constitutional mandate to safeguard Kenya's constitutional order.
Image: PCS/FILE
President William Ruto has sent a strong warning to the alleged planners of the chaos witnessed during the anti-Finance Bill protest today.
The President said it was his constitutional mandate to safeguard Kenya's constitutional order.
"Today's events mark a critical point in how we respond to threats to national security," he said.
"We will ensure a situation of this nature does not recur again."
"I hereby put on notice the planners, financiers, orchestrators and abettors of violence and anarchy, that these security infrastructures established to protect our republic and its sovereignty, will be deployed to secure the country and restore normalcy."
Ruto ended his address by saying the government will treat every threat to national security as an "existential threat to our republic", and actors in such threats will be viewed as "treasonous".
"The government will therefore uphold its constitutional mandate to secure our nation and its development and shall treat every threat to national security and the integrity of our state as an existential danger to our Republic," he said.
"Accordingly, I assure Kenyans that we shall provide a full, effective and expeditious response to today's treasonous events.
"I shall continue to lead a government that is fully committed tomaintaining the integrity of our state, promoting the unity of ournation and enhancing the peace and security of all citizens andtheir livelihoods.
"I am bound under sacred constitutionalmandate to respect, uphold and defend the constitution ofKenya, which declares that all sovereign power belong to thepeople, and that this power shall be exercised only in accordancewith the constitution."
The President also lauded the young people(Gen Zs) - who have been at the forefront of Finance Bill protests - for raising a "pertinent" conversation but says this must "be conducted in a manner that respects the rule of law and respect for institutions".
"It is very painful for Kenya that a conversation this crucial was hijacked by dangerous people," he continues.
"It is not so that criminals pretending to be peaceful protestors can raise terror against the people - and expect to go scot-free."