'Criminals cannot run after police,' President Ruto warns as he meets security agencies

President William Ruto has come out strongly in defence of police officers, warning that individuals attacking law enforcement will face the full force of the law.

Speaking during a high-level meeting with top security and national administration officers at State House, Nairobi, the president condemned recent attacks on police witnessed during Wednesday's Gen-Z protests, saying the trend threatens national stability.

“We cannot have a country where criminals run after our policemen. If a policeman’s life is in danger, then how can our families be safe? This trend must change,” said President Ruto.

The meeting, which brought together senior officers from across the country, comes just three days after the nationwide demonstrations that saw confrontations between protesters and police in several towns.

The president vowed accountability for those behind the violence, saying, “The criminals who attacked our officers and destroyed property in the Wednesday mayhem will be held to account.”

The meeting comes amid growing disquiet within the security sector, following public statements by some officers condemning police brutality and distancing themselves from the current leadership of the security docket.

This rare public dissent has exposed internal tensions within the security ranks and raised fresh concerns about cohesion and trust in the sector.