A Call for Justice, Not Violence @MEMBAFLIX
0The recent order by President William Ruto—declaring that anyone caught destroying a police station should be shot—is not just alarming; it is a dangerous departure from justice and humanity. At its core, this directive violates the most basic principles of law and human dignity. No society that claims to value justice can condone extrajudicial killings, no matter the provocation.
When a leader sanctions lethal force as a first response rather than a last resort, they betray their duty to protect life. Police stations may symbolize authority, but they are still buildings—structures that can be rebuilt. Human lives, once taken, cannot be restored. The suggestion that destruction of property justifies summary execution is a grotesque overreach, one that echoes the darkest chapters of oppressive regimes.
Beyond the moral failing, such an order is profoundly shortsighted. Violence begets violence. If the state responds to unrest with bullets rather than dialogue, it will only deepen the wounds of division. People do not riot without cause. Behind every act of destruction, there are often years of frustration—unaddressed grievances, economic despair, or systemic injustice. To meet these cries for change with brute force is to ignore the very problems that fuel the unrest in the first place.
Moreover, this directive sets a perilous precedent. If security forces are given license to shoot with impunity, who will hold them accountable? History has shown that unchecked state violence does not discriminate; it silences dissenters, targets the marginalized, and chills democracy itself. Kenya has fought too hard for its freedoms to slide into such lawlessness under the guise of "order."
True leadership does not threaten—it listens, reforms, and heals. If the government wishes to end violence, it must address its roots, not escalate brutality. Kenya deserves justice, not vengeance. The world is watching.
@MEMBAFLIX