Ruto: 'I have no blood on my hands'

President William Ruto now claims he has no blood on his hands following extra-judicial killings witnessed during the recent protests.

According to Ruto who was speaking during a roundtable with journalists at State House on Sunday, June 30, police officers acted independently during the protests.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) in records, has documented 23 deaths that resulted from police shootings nationwide. Additionally, there were over 50 arrests, 22 abductions, and over 300 injuries.

“I have no blood on my hands…It's very unfortunate, as a democracy that should not be part of our conversation,” said Ruto who further dismissed the number of deaths by KNHRC. 

Further, the Head of State defended the decision to deploy the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to the streets to quell protests, saying it was necessary considering the breach of Parliament and Chief Justice offices.

"How did the criminals know there was an armoury and a mausoleum in Parliament?" They went straight for the armory and mausoleum, indicating they were organised criminals," he said. 

On the trending ‘Ruto must go’ hashtag, the president said everybody was entitled to their opinion. 

“I have a job to do. Citizens are free to engage in discourse that they want to but those are the fruits and signs of a democracy,” said the Head of State.

Ruto's remarks come on the back of nationwide protests against tax hikes proposed in the Finance Bill 2024, which has since been withdrawn and concerns raised on poor governance.