Cleophas Malala, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) deputy party leader, has publicly criticised President William Ruto for failing to express condolences to families who lost their children during recent anti-government protests.

While addressing congregants at Subukia AIC in Nakuru County on Sunday, July 20, 2025, Malala emphasised that before issuing directives for police to shoot protesters in the legs, Ruto should have shown empathy towards the bereaved families.

This criticism comes in the wake of Ruto’s controversial order for police to shoot protesters who vandalise property in the legs to incapacitate them, rather than using lethal force.

“I want to challenge Ruto, hadi leo haujatoka kuomboleza even to empathise with the families zimepoteza watoto wao kabla useme wale wanaenda kwa maandamano wapigwe risasi za miguu ungesema atapole kwa wale ambao wamefiwa,” he said.

Shoot the leg directive

Speaking from Kilimani on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, the head of state said that any individual who attacks a police station or assaults law enforcement officers will face severe consequences under the full force of the law.

“Anyone who picks up petrol to burn someone else’s business or any other person’s property, such a person should be shot in the leg, taken to hospital, and then presented in court,” he said.

“And I want to tell Kenyans clearly anyone who attacks a police officer, anyone who invades a police station, that is a declaration of war in the Republic of Kenya. I do not know if we are understanding each other, my friend. Enough is enough. It cannot go on any longer.”

Death of protestors

Malala’s criticism comes after the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has confirmed that the death toll from the Saba Saba demonstrations has risen to 38, with at least 130 more people injured across the country.

In a press statement released Friday, July 11, 2025, evening, the Commission condemned the excessive use of force and called on the government to urgently address the mounting human rights violations.

According to KNCHR, the fatalities span several counties, with Kiambu recording the highest number at eight deaths, followed by Nairobi and Kajiado with six each.

“The Commission observes that the death toll has now risen to thirty-eight (38) people as of 1800hrs today,” KNCHR stated. At least one hundred and thirty (130) people are still nursing injuries at home and in various health facilities across the country,” the statement read.

The Commission reported that 14 out of the 15 postmortems conducted so far revealed that victims died from gunshot wounds, raising serious questions about the conduct of security forces during the protests.