Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has once again faulted Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen’s shoot-to-kill orders and the subsequent President William Ruto’s shoot-to-maim directive issued to police officers when dealing with anti-government protests.

In a statement on Friday, July 11, Raila emphasised the need to observe the rule of law at all times when it comes to protests or any other environment that requires law enforcement.

According to Raila, shoot to kill/maim/shock/disorient citizens are all wrong and do not conform with the spirit of the 2010 Constitution.

“As a country, we must at all times opt for the Rule of Law and due process and reject the temptation to give police illegitimate and deadly powers over citizens even when the citizens are perceived to have broken the law,” Raila said in the statement.

Raila is now advocating for the suspects arrested during recent protests, who authorities say are behind looting and destruction of property witnessed across the country, to be taken to courts and be subjected to fair prosecution process.

“We are all better served as a country when we stick to the principle that everyone is innocent until proven guilty; determination that can only be made by a competent court of law. Let’s prioritize arrests and arraignment in courts over killing, maiming or brutalizing of suspects,” he argued, adding that, “This preserves the dignity and respects the human rights of suspects while at the same time confers credibility to the actions of the State.”

He added: “As a country, we should do everything to avoid the militarized approach to policing. Examples from around the continent show that such an approach only increases risk of violence. A militarized approach to policing endangers both the suspect and the law enforcement officers.”

President Ruto came under sharp criticism from Kenyans and different human rights stakeholders after directing police officers to shoot at the legs of protestors engaging in looting businesses and destruction of property.

“Anyone who burns down someone else’s business and property, let them be shot in the leg and go to the hospital as they head to court. Yes, let them not kill, but shoot and break the legs. Destroying people’s property is not right,” Ruto spoke just two days after the country witnessed destrcution of private property, looting of businesses, police brutality and killings during Saba Saba protests.