Kenya: Tuesday protests were treasonous, Ruto says

NAIROBI, Kenya - Kenya's President William Ruto says Tuesday's events in Parliament and other parts of the country are treasonous while questioning the motive of protesters, who seem to control most parts of the Horn of Africa nation.

In a statement offered moments after the deadly protests in several parts of the country, President William Ruto maintained that the potential of the protesters will not go in vain, adding that there is a need for stability.

President Ruto was addressing the nation following a day of protests that killed at least five people and injured over 125 others. According to the Head of State, criminals hijacked a critical conversation, causing havoc throughout the country and desecrating the August House.

"I hereby put on notice the planners, financiers, orchestrators, and abettors of violence and anarchy that the security infrastructure established to protect our republic and its sovereignty will be to deployed secure the country and restore order and normalcy," President Ruto said.

Dr. Ruto accused criminals pausing as genuine protesters of hijacking the noble cause, adding that they were interrupted by individuals who never had the vision to demonstrate cooperation and the rule of law.

"We must isolate crime from democratic expression and separate criminals from people exercising their freedom of expression and divergent opinion," he added.

A tough-talking Ruto promised a full and prompt response to Tuesday's events to ensure that such an event did not occur again.

"I assure Kenyans that we shall provide a full, effective, and expeditious response to today's treasonous events," President Ruto said.

Kenyan protesters broke through parliament's barricades on Tuesday and entered the complex, where lawmakers were debating contentious tax increases that have sparked widespread anger.

According to Amnesty International Kenya, hundreds of protesters broke through police barriers outside Nairobi's parliament, prompting police to fire live rounds and injure "many" people, CT TV reports.

In a joint statement, Ambassadors and High Commissioners from 13 countries expressed concern over the violence witnessed across the country and the resultant deaths.

"We are deeply concerned by the violence witnessed in many parts of the country during the recent protests, and are especially shocked by the scenes witnessed outside the Kenyan Parliament," reads the statement.

GAROWE ONLINE