Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has warned against giving police authority to shoot to kill or maim during protests, urging the government to prioritise arrests and due process instead of militarised policing.

Odinga noted that police using excessive force against citizens, even when they are suspected of breaking the law, violates the rule of law and risks escalating violence in the country.

“We must at all times opt for the rule of law and due process and reject the temptation to give police illegitimate and deadly powers over citizens,” said Odinga.

He explained that everyone remains innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law, noting that the state should prioritise arrest and arraignment over killing or brutalising suspects.

“This preserves the dignity and respects the human rights of suspects while at the same time confers credibility to the actions of the state,” noted Odinga.

His remarks come days after President William Ruto directed security agencies to firmly deal with individuals looting and vandalising businesses during protests.

Speaking in Kilimani during the launch of an affordable housing project, Ruto said such individuals should be shot in the leg, taken to the hospital, and then to court.

“Mtu ambaye anenda kuchoma mali ya watu na kupiga polisi, mtu kama huyo apigwe risasi ya mguu, apelekwe hospitalini kisha kortini. Wasimuue lakini wapige mguu ivunjike, apelekwe kortini,” said Ruto.

This loosely translates to, “Anyone who vandalises any property and attacks a police officer should be shot in the leg, taken to hospital and court of law. He should not be killed, but break the leg and take to court.”

Ruto observed that as president, he would not sit back and allow the country to slide into anarchy as criminals take advantage of protests to loot and vandalise property.

“Mtu anamka kwake anachukua moto akachome mali ya mwingine… apana hio siwezi kubali. Kwa hivyo askari asipige mwananchi risasi kuua, lakini mwalifu ashughulikiwe,” he said.

Earlier, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen declared he would stand by officers accused of manhandling protesters even if the charges included murder, noting that he is a lawyer and would defend them to the end.

Odinga observed that a militarised approach to policing endangers both law enforcement officers and suspects, explaining that examples from other African countries have shown that such methods often increase violence.

He urged authorities to uphold constitutional principles in handling protests and other law enforcement activities, noting that respecting human rights strengthens the country’s democratic values.