Ruto warns against any attempt to overthrow the government

Kenyan President William Ruto warned on Wednesday July 9 of those who would overthrow the government, two days after fresh anti-government protests across the country left several people dead.

“They want to sow chaos, organize demonstrations burn property, cause disaster, in order to overthrow the government before 2027, the date of the next presidential election”, said Ruto during a visit to the capital Nairobi.

This statement came two days after the demonstrations organized on Monday to commemorate Saba Saba, or Seven-Seven in Swahili, in reference to the pro-democracy uprising of July 7, 1990.

Police deployed in large numbers had cut off the main access routes to Nairobi, where the streets were empty. Clashes between police and demonstrators broke out on the outskirts of the city, reports said.

Violence across the country left at least 31 people dead and 107 wounded, as well as forcing several to disappear, according to the National Human Rights Commission, an independent public institution.

The UN reported ten deaths on Tuesday and denounced the use of violence during the demonstrations.