Ruto claimed that he was out of options, adding that the situation would have been worse had he not resorted to deploying the military.
President William Ruto on Sunday, June 30 spoke about the deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) on civilian streets to assist the police in quelling unrest as a result of the anti-Finance Bill protests.
Speaking during a roundtable interview with top journalists at State House, Nairobi, Ruto claimed that he was out of options, adding that the situation would have been worse had he not resorted to deploying the military.
“In my first statement, I clearly said innocent lives were lost and in my second statement I said the same. If I hadn’t done what I did, things would have been much worse,” he stated.
According to the Head of State, it would have been a reckless move had he not directed the deployment of the military, which was largely criticised by Kenyans from all corners and within opposition political circles.
KDF officers on patrol in Nairobi CBD. /LARRY MADOWO
“Many people asked me Mr President, why did you call in the army? What choice did I have?
“It would have been very reckless of me not to mobilize every arm of government and every arm of our security agencies to protect the country and to protect lives,” he added.
The deployment of the military was challenged by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) at the High Court which however ruled that the intervention was justified, though finding that it was clear that the public had not been fully appraised of the extent of the military involvement.
Ruto also claimed that since the onset of the anti-Finance Bill protests, declared property worth Ksh2.4 billion had been destroyed, adding that the damage had been caused by criminals who allegedly infiltrated the peaceful protests to cause atrocities such as burning down a section of the Parliament Buildings.
“I have no blood in my hands. 19 people to the record that I have from the security agencies are dead. Very unfortunate,” he stated.
“As a democracy, that should not be part of our conversation. 2.4 billion of the property had been destroyed. The office of the Chief Justice has been burnt. City Hall has been burnt. Parliament has been burnt,” he added.
He however assured families of the deceased that investigations into the incidents were underway with a report set to be revealed to the public.
“I am telling every parent, I have kids like they do and I care when there are issues in town where criminals can take advantage of situations and create a situation where the police have to use rubber bullets and live bullets in some cases because that is what an independent police service has to do. I am sure the police have a record and explanation for every incident that they were engaged in,” he added.
“Any life that is lost is something that must bother anybody beginning with myself. When I came into office I said there would be no extrajudicial killing in Kenya and I have made sure that there is no extrajudicial killing in Kenya. It is true that children got into situations where they became victims of the demonstrations. These great young people who have stepped forward to prosecute their agenda, I am certain that they did not burn Parliament.”
Parliament buildings on fire as of June 25, 2024. /INDIA TODAY