In the wake of growing tensions over street protests, Belgut MP Nelson Koech has made a bold call for tougher police response to violent demonstrations, urging the use of maximum force to restore order and protect national stability.
Addressing residents at a community event in Chebirbei, Kericho County, Koech who also chairs the National Assembly Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations Committee criticized what he sees as a lenient approach to handling increasingly aggressive crowds. He suggested that President William Ruto’s recent instruction for police to aim for demonstrators’ legs is too restrained in the face of escalating unrest.
“We are dealing with chaos disguised as protest,” Koech said. “When armed individuals threaten lives, destroy property, and disrupt peace, law enforcement must be empowered to act decisively up to and including lethal force where necessary.”
Referencing provisions in the Police Act, Koech emphasized that officers already have legal grounds to use firearms in defense of life, property, or public safety. In his view, recent incidents of vandalism and looting during protests have crossed a line and demand firmer intervention.
He warned that attempts to breach protected sites such as the State House should not be treated lightly, branding such acts as terrorism and a direct threat to the country’s security.
Koech’s remarks come amid heated national debate on how far law enforcement should go in dealing with civil unrest a conversation that continues to stir strong opinions on the balance between public safety and the right to protest.
