President William Ruto has said no Kenyan should lose their life, liberty or dignity for criticising the government, expressing an unpopular opinion or participating in a peaceful demonstration.
Ruto acknowledged the pain arising from past incidents in which families lost loved ones, while noting serious allegations of unlawful arrests, enforced disappearances and excessive use of lethal force.
Speaking on Thursday, August 27, 2026, the President said such allegations cannot be ignored, insisting that credible claims of human rights violations must be independently and thoroughly investigated.
“Every credible allegation of a human rights violation must be investigated independently, thoroughly and transparently,” Ruto said.
He added that those found culpable should be held accountable in accordance with the law.
Protection of protesters’ constitutional rights
At the same time, Ruto stressed that the protection of protesters’ constitutional rights should not be interpreted as a licence to commit crimes during demonstrations.
“The Constitution protects peaceful and unarmed assembly. It does not protect arson, looting, lawlessness,” he said.
The President called for a clear distinction between citizens exercising their constitutional right to demonstrate and individuals who commit criminal offences during protests.
“We must neither criminalize protest because of the actions of a few, nor legitimize criminal conduct merely because it occurs in the course of a protest,” he said.
Ruto said the rights guaranteed by the Constitution must be accompanied by corresponding responsibilities, arguing that the two principles should work together to safeguard democracy and public order.
“The right to protest carries a responsibility to remain peaceful and unarmed. The duty to maintain order carries an obligation to respect life, dignity and the law,” he said.
He further said the government has a responsibility to listen to citizens, while those exercising their freedom to disagree should help preserve democratic institutions through which disputes can be peacefully addressed.
“The authority to govern carries a responsibility to listen,” Ruto said.
His remarks come amid continued debate over the conduct of security agencies during demonstrations and the government’s responsibility to protect citizens’ constitutional rights while maintaining law and order.
Ruto said Kenya must uphold both the right to peaceful protest and accountability for criminal acts, maintaining that respect for rights and responsibility are essential to sustaining democratic freedoms.
