Ruto: June 25 protests were calculated chaos, economic sabotage

President William Ruto has condemned the violence and destruction that occurred during the June 25 protests, describing them as premeditated acts of economic sabotage orchestrated by political figures who exploited the genuine aspirations of Kenya’s youth.

Speaking on Friday during World MSME Day at KICC, Nairobi, President Ruto expressed his “deepest regrets” over the tragic loss of lives and the widespread destruction that resulted in looted businesses, razed market stalls, and ruined livelihoods.

“The biggest victims of these chaos were our hardworking traders and entrepreneurs, who wake very early morning today to find some of their businesses and hustles reduced to ashes, and others with broken doors and empty stalls,” he stated.

“The livelihoods of hardworking Kenyans have been shattered by deliberate acts of lawlessness,” he charged.

While reaffirming that the right to peaceful protest is enshrined in the Constitution, the President insisted that the demonstrations had been hijacked by criminal elements with ulterior political motives.

“We respect and uphold that right. But what we witnessed was not peaceful protest. it was calculated chaos, violence and destruction. It was economic sabotage,” said the head of state.

He further described the violence as “anarchy dressed in freedom colours” and “disorder disguised as democracy,” posing questions to Kenyans about whether destruction and instability are truly what the country desires.

“Is this the Kenya we really want? Do we want to build, or do we want to destroy? Do we uphold the law only to exploit its protection to sow chaos and cripple our economy? Is this what freedom truly means? Is it freedom to burn what others have built?” he asked.

The President directed the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies to conduct immediate and thorough investigations into the events of June 25, promising swift and decisive prosecution for those involved.

“The perpetrators of violence, looting, and destruction must be identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, swiftly and decisively,” he said.

He also issued a stern warning to political leaders whom he accused of manipulating the protests for their own gain.

“To the political actors who think they can exploit the genuine aspirations of our young people to foment chaos, violence, and destruction, the wheels of justice will find you and deal with you firmly and decisively within the full letter of the law,” President Ruto declared.

He reiterated that Kenya is a country governed by the rule of law, and the government will not allow acts of violence and destruction during protests to ruin lives and livelihoods.