Ruto tells parents to take charge of children: ‘If you surrender them to police, what do you expect?’

President William Ruto has called on parents to take greater responsibility for the upbringing of their children, warning that neither the government nor institutions like the church can replace the role of parenting.

During a church service at AIC Bomani in Machakos County on Sunday, Ruto said children are a gift from God and must be guided by their families.

“Our children are a gift from God to our families and the nation. We must mentor them; parenting is a God-given responsibility,” Ruto said. “Don’t abdicate it to the church or the government. Don’t let your child be brought up by passers-by.”

Ruto further warned that parents must not “surrender” their children to be shaped by law enforcement.

“All of us must take responsibility if our children do the wrong thing,” he said. “The police are trained to deal with criminals, not in parenting. If you surrender your children to the police, what do you expect? I take time to parent my children, and so must everybody.”

The President condemned what he termed as the misuse of young people by some political actors during recent anti-government protests, describing it as irresponsible.

“Leaders, let us not misuse or abuse our children by inciting them to cause violence, destroy property, and people’s businesses,” he said.

“Some leaders anticipate that when there is violence, they will advance their political activity. You have no plan for Kenya and are just relying on chaos so you can become somebody? That is the rock bottom of any form of leadership.”

He also urged Kenyans to work together to channel the energy, talent, and education of the youth toward building a better Kenya.

“Our children’s energy and talent are important for building Kenya going forward, and it is our collective responsibility to make sure we guide and mentor them,” the President said.

Ruto’s comments came just over a week after he put on notice unnamed political leaders he accused of inciting the youth into violence witnessed in recent demonstrations against his administration.

“It is leaders financing youth to carry out those acts, and we are coming after you!” he said in Nairobi on July 9, ordering police to shoot in the leg anyone caught looting businesses and vandalizing property during protests.

“Anyone who burns down someone else’s business and property, let them be shot in the leg and go to the hospital as they head to court. Yes, let them not kill, but shoot and break the legs. Destroying people’s property is not right,” he said.

Ruto termed attacks on police officers and premises like police stations, such as those witnessed during the June 25 anti-2024 Finance Bill anniversary protests, as terrorism.

“Those who attack our police, security installations, including police stations, are declaring war. It is terrorism, and we are going to deal with you firmly. We cannot have a nation run by terror and governed by violence; it will not happen under my watch,” Ruto said then.

Protests across the country have increased in recent months over growing public discontent against Ruto’s regime over the rising cost of living and a spate of crackdowns on government critics and street protests, many of which have resulted in deaths, injuries, and abductions.

Critics condemn police for brutality and the use of live ammunition on unarmed protesters during the youth-led demos.

From the most recent July 7 demos, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said it recorded 31 deaths and 107 injuries.

Cases of vandalism to business premises were also recorded in several towns across at least 15 counties.

Meanwhile, the June 25 protests left over 16 people killed, most by police, per the rights group Amnesty International Kenya.