President William Ruto’s firm stance on the ongoing anti-government protests, vowing to stop the demonstrations and crush what he termed as “tyranny of anonymous, faceless, formless, sponsored people”, marks a pivotal moment in handling the unrest, emphasising the need for stability and dialogue in the face of growing tensions.

His words, “Enough is Enough!”, indicate a resolve to address the situation decisively, likely hinting at potential measures to restore order or engage with protestors’ concerns.  

At the same time, the President called on the media to report responsibly in the wake of protests, warning journalists not to celebrate anarchy in their reporting, stating that the press must be responsible in its coverage. The President alleged that some media outlets had crossed the line, and it was unfortunate that a section of the media was glorifying anarchy.

The President cautioned the media against going beyond the call of duty, insisting that protecting the country should be a collective responsibility of all citizens.  

In a significant shift in his administration’s approach to the ongoing protests that have gripped the country, President Ruto directed the criminal justice agencies to take effective measures and ensure that people who may have been innocently caught up on the wrong side of proceedings – and those not implicated in crimes – be released and the charges against them withdrawn.

He, however, made it clear that the police are to employ the full force of the law against individuals who engage in criminal activities under the guise of protesting.

Additionally, the President has dared those he claims are “funding” the demonstrations to come out and give their alternative views about the country’s governance.

The protesters have been demanding the resignation of President Ruto, accusing the head of state and his administration of failing to deliver on the promises he made while seeking office in 2022.

In the past few weeks, many Kenyans have lost their lives, others have been seriously injured, and property worth millions of shillings has been destroyed as a result of violence occasioned by lawless activity during the protests.

“This is not how and where our democracy should proceed, and we must do all we can to ensure that this does not occur again in future,” said President Ruto while announcing the second batch of Cabinet on Wednesday, July 24.

The country has also witnessed many instances of excessive, unlawful, dangerous and harmful conduct during the demonstrations and engagements, as a consequence of which many people have been arrested and charged in court with various offences.

The President affirmed the constitutional authority and duty vested in the country’s national security institutions to protect the country against internal and external threats to Kenya’s sovereignty, the lives and people, rights, freedoms, property, peace, stability and prosperity, and other national interests.

“I call on the National Police Service to use its mandate responsibly, professionally, effectively and in full compliance with the constitution with a view to promoting the national objectives of Articles 238, 239 and 244,” said the President.

However, Dr. Ruto said all breaches and violations by police officers must be handled expeditiously through due process, with a view to giving Kenyans a police service that upholds the highest standards of integrity.  

He reminded Kenyans that they all have a duty to balance their rights and responsibilities at all times so that the legitimate exercise of their rights and freedoms does not undermine their broader aspirations to remain a civilised, democratic and peaceful country governed under rules and institutions for the benefit of all.  

Cabinet Nominees

During his last address to the nation on July 19, President Ruto said he would consult a broad spectrum of stakeholders from all sectors, levels and regions in order to constitute a broad-based government.

On Wednesday, July 24, the President named four opposition members and five members of the Cabinet he dismissed earlier in the month in response to protesters’ demands. On July 19, Dr. Ruto announced 11 nominees – retaining six of his initial 22 Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) and nominated five new faces for consideration and approval by the National Assembly. He stated that he would announce additional nominees soon.

The Big Question

Did the President factor in political balance, competence and integrity, loyalty and support, gender and youth inclusion, technocratic expertise, policy priorities, and public perception when making the nominations?