Amnesty International condemned Kenyan President William Ruto on July 15, 2025, for remarks perceived as endorsing lethal force against protesters, following violent clashes that left 15 dead over the past week.
The human rights group, in a statement from its London office, criticized Ruto’s July 14 address where he warned of “decisive action” against “anarchists” disrupting tax reform demonstrations, interpreting it as a green light for security forces to shoot. Video evidence from Nairobi’s Central Business District showed police firing live rounds, corroborated by hospital reports of 50 injuries, prompting Amnesty to demand an independent probe.
Ruto’s office clarified his intent was to restore order amid riots that damaged 20 businesses, citing a £30 million economic loss, but Amnesty highlighted a pattern, referencing the 2024 Gen Z protests where 60 deaths were linked to excessive force.
The UN has urged de-escalation, while opposition leader Raila Odinga called it a “declaration of war on citizens.” Public sentiment, gauged through local media, shows growing distrust, with 70% of Kenyans opposing the tax hikes per a recent poll, fueling the unrest Ruto seeks to quell, though his administration defends the measures as economic necessity.