Kenya’s president says ‘enough is enough’ and vows to end anti-government protests

NAIROBI Kenya AP Kenya s president on Wednesday broke his silence over latest anti-government protests that left dozens dead saying he would not allow anarchy in the country disguised as peaceful demonstrations President William Ruto commented enough is enough and urged police to shoot in the leg those involved in looting and burning businesses Weeks of protests have rocked Kenya after a blogger died in police custody last month angering a multitude of Kenyans Tensions heightened after a policeman shot a civilian at close-range during one of the demonstrations against police brutality Thousands turned out for protests on June which coincided with the one-year anniversary of huge anti-tax protests On Monday police erected roadblocks on all roads leading to the city center in the capital Nairobi blocking motorists and pedestrians deemed not to be in essential work Police clashed with protesters on the outskirts of the city and in of counties across the country leaving people dead and more than injured More than others were arrested A total of people have died in the past two weeks during two separate waves of demonstrations The U N high commissioner for human rights Volker T rk on Tuesday urged that the grievances leading to the protests are addressed President Ruto on Wednesday claimed the discontent was politically motivated and declared that he would not allow destruction of property You can call me whatever names you want to call me but I will make sure there is peace and stability in Kenya by all means Ruto declared The president read a riot act to his political rivals who he stated required to overthrow his ruling body through violence adding that anyone who attacks a police station that is a declaration of war This is a democratic country and the citizens are the ones who determine its leadership through an balloting We cannot decide leadership through violence Ruto noted Civil society groups have repeatedly called for restraint by police during demonstrations Five police officers were in the past few days charged in court over the death of a blogger in custody and the close-range shooting of a civilian The deputy police inspector general Eliud Langat who had filed a complaint about the blogger s social media posts accusing him of corruption has since stepped aside as investigations continue Source