President Ruto accuses foreign forces of sponsoring protests

President Ruto accuses foreign forces of sponsoring protests

President William Ruto. [Denish Ochieng,Standard]

President William Ruto has accused unnamed foreign individuals of sponsoring unrest to destabilise his government.

Speaking on Wednesday, July 10, at the commissioning of the Kimuka Power Substation in Kajiado County, Ruto said Kenya is a democratic nation that will not be intimidated.

"Kenyans are clever, and they are the ones to decide how the country moves forward. Those trying to plan things abroad, I want to tell you that Kenya is a democratic nation," he said.

"There is no need to destabilise the peace of the country and use shortcuts to gain power. Kenyans are clever and they will decide how the country will move forward," he added.

Ruto's remarks follow weeks of protests led by the Gen Z generation. The protests, which began with demands to reject the Finance Bill 2014, have evolved into calls for Ruto's resignation. Protesters are also demanding that the government take responsibility for alleged police brutality that has led to the death of some of the demonstrators.

According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), at least 39 people have died and 361 injured during the countrywide anti-Finance Bill protests. The Commission said the data was recorded from June 18 to July 1, 2024.