Maandamano Monday: Ruto Speaks
President William Ruto insists that no one is above the law.
Speaking on the day Azimio leader Raila Odinga led massive demonstrations across the country, President Ruto, speaking at State House, Nairobi on March 20, 2023, after presiding swearing-in of Solicitor General Shadrack Mose, also warned that no one should trample the on the rights of others in the name of exercising their rights.
“As I had told the country, I’ll ensure as the President that this country is governed by the rule of law and nothing extralegal, nothing extra-constitutional, nothing outside the law is going to be part of what we do as a nation,” President Ruto said.
He added that: “As we enjoy our rights as individuals, we must be careful also to ensure that we don’t trample on the rights of others. The cardinal principle is that as a country that believes in the rule of law, there is no greater or lesser person. None of us is above the law.”
The President said that if some of the people are allowed to operate outside the law, the country could end up in the wrong direction.
“Allowing ourselves to operate outside the law is actually condoning impunity and there is no end to it. Once we go that slippery route, it could end anywhere. So I want to encourage us as the people of Kenya, all of us to respect the law because it was meant for all of us.”
President Ruto has consistently dismissed the call for protests by Mr Odinga and his colleagues in the Azimio la Umoja alliance.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has also called on Mr Odinga to call off the protests on the basis it is affecting the economy.
Meanwhile, a majority of businesses were shut down in Nairobi on the day of the protests and traders elected to stay home or risk their business being attacked and looted.
Hundreds of policemen were deployed in the CBD to maintain law and order, and some of them were engaged in running battles with the protestors.
Also read: Maandamano: Raila Odinga’s convoy teargassed in Nairobi