Belgut MP Nelson Koech urges police to 'shoot to kill' violent protesters

The National Assembly Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee chairperson Nelson Koech. (Photo: National Assembly)

By Maureen Kinyanjui
Thursday, July 10, 2025

Koech said the President’s directive did not go far enough and insisted the police should aim to kill those who pose a threat.

In a fiery and controversial call, Belgut MP Nelson Koech has urged law enforcement officers to adopt a shoot-to-kill approach when dealing with violent protesters who attack lives, property, and businesses.

His remarks, made on Thursday morning, come just a day after President William Ruto instructed police to shoot looters and vandals targeting property, but only in the legs.

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Speaking in a video seen by The Eastleigh Voice, Koech, who chairs the National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee, said the President’s directive did not go far enough and insisted the police should aim to kill those who pose a threat.

“I want to thank President William Ruto for saying yesterday, shoot but do not kill. I want to repeat it here. In fact, shoot and kill. You cannot have someone coming after your life, and you do not want to shoot and kill,” Koech said.

He argued that any individual who threatens lives or attacks businesses armed with weapons should be met with deadly force.

“You cannot have someone who is going to terrorise you and your family, and you are telling me you cannot shoot and kill. You cannot have someone who is coming after your businesses armed and with weapons, and you want to tell me that you cannot use shoot and kill,” the MP added.

Koech argued that the Constitution and the Police Act give officers the legal right to use their firearms when they assess that their lives or those of others are in danger. According to him, the current wave of violent demonstrations has been driven not by grievances but by an aim to cause harm and destruction.

Belgut MP Nelson Koech: Yesterday, when the president said shoot but do not kill, I want to repeat it here, in fact, shoot and kill. You cannot have someone coming after your life, someone who is going to terrorise you and your family, and you do not want to shoot and kill.… pic.twitter.com/U8tLhUkjf4
— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) July 10, 2025

He strongly condemned those who attempt to storm protected areas like State House, branding them as criminals rather than genuine demonstrators.

“Anyone who wants to go to a protected area like State House is not an ordinary person — that is a criminal, that is an armed person that must be dealt with equal force. And the only force that applies to such people is to shoot and kill,” he said.

Koech also warned that those engaging in such violent acts risk facing terrorism charges.

“We will arrest everyone, and I can tell you they are going to be charged as either facilitating terrorism or they are terrorists themselves,” he stated.

His comments echo, but sharply intensify, sentiments shared by the President during a recent national address. Ruto had directed police to shoot and injure, not kill, individuals caught vandalising or looting under the guise of protests.

“We want peace in Kenya, people to do business. A person who is going to burn another person's business and property, such a person should be shot in the legs, taken to the hospital and then to court. They should not kill him, but they should shoot his legs. We cannot accept people who burn other people's property and business. Is there really justice there?” Ruto said on Wednesday.

The President was clear that while criminals must be held accountable, innocent civilians must not be harmed by police actions.