Wamuzi News Ke
President William Ruto has launched a fierce counterattack against a recent High Court ruling that restricted police from setting up roadblocks in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), calling the decision a threat to national stability and a shield for lawlessness.
Speaking on Tuesday during the launch of a police housing project in Kilimani, the President slammed the judiciary for what he described as undermining security efforts at a time when Kenya is grappling with violent protests.
Ruto claimed the ban on police barricades would embolden criminals posing as demonstrators to infiltrate the city, destroy property, and attack law enforcement.“There is a red line,” Ruto said. “When you burn police stations and assault our officers, that is not protest — that is treason against the Republic of Kenya.
We will not allow it, and I will not apologize for standing firm.”
Court Ruling Sparks Executive Backlash.
The court order, issued by Justice Lawrence Mugambi, prohibits Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome and his officers from arbitrarily restricting access to public roads in Nairobi during protests without giving proper notice or justification.
The ruling emphasized that peaceful demonstrations are a constitutional right under Articles 37 and 39 of the Kenyan Constitution and must not be obstructed by excessive police actions.
The directive came in response to a petition by the Katiba Institute, which argued that the police have repeatedly used roadblocks and barbed wire in the CBD to stifle dissent and restrict movement — particularly during anti-government protests.But Ruto dismissed the decision as dangerous judicial overreach that ignores the real threats on the ground.
“You cannot handcuff security agencies and expect peace. When the courts protect chaos, who protects the people?” the President asked during his speech.
President Draws a Hard Line.
In a clear departure from his previously conciliatory tone, Ruto warned that his administration would no longer tolerate attacks on police officers or state property. He instructed law enforcement to use force — “within the law” — to contain violent protesters and criminals disguised as demonstrators.
“If you destroy infrastructure or loot businesses, do not expect sympathy,” he declared. “We will act swiftly, and we will act firmly.”Ruto also took aim at opposition leaders, accusing them of fueling unrest in a bid to destabilize his government ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“We know what this is about. Power is sought through the ballot, not through smoke, stones, and slander.”
National Division Intensifies.
The President’s comments have triggered alarm among civil society groups and human rights advocates, who argue that the executive is using security concerns as a pretext to silence legitimate dissent. They insist the court ruling was a necessary check on unchecked police powers that have often resulted in injuries, abductions, and unlawful detentions during public demonstrations.
“The court affirmed a simple principle: that rights must not be sacrificed for convenience,” said a statement from the Kenya Human Rights Commission. “Security must be balanced with freedom. We cannot normalize brute force.”
