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President William Ruto has called for respect of police officers saying they should continue being firm and professional in their line of duty.

Ruto made the remarks as he told off politicians for using young people in their evil schemes to sabotage the economy and the country.

He said leaders should not destroy the country by causing chaos and destroying businesses, saying that it is not possible that anybody can attack the police who are a symbol of security.

“We all love our children. We educate and protect them and then give money to a few of our children very little money and stones to fight the police and destroy property. Please, we must be human as leaders. The way you would want your child to be treated, do the same for other people’s children,” said Ruto yesterday after the Sunday service held in Mwatunge grounds in Taita Taveta.
Inciting the youth

If some leaders feel like they must incite the youth to cause chaos, Ruto said they should lead by example by parading their children and families first in protests.

“It cannot be that you want your children protected and then misuse other youths to destroy peace in the country and get hurt in the process. We have so many police officers right now in hospitals and a few leaders are pushing this bad agenda, he insisted.

“I want to urge our young people, do not agree to be given just a little money to go and break the law, throw stones at police officers, with teargas and guns then destroy people’s property and businesses. That will put you on very dangerous grounds,” the President affirmed.

He said police must be firm, even as he lauded them for doing their jobs professionally to ensure all those who bring chaos by fighting the officers and attacking stations are brought to book.

“We are a peaceful nation and all of us must be law-abiding because we are a country because of the rule of law. If we fail to respect the laws we will not have a country. All of us no matter the background, if we want to be a civilized nation we must abide by the rule of law, it is a measure of any progressive nation,” he stated.

His remarks come against the backdrop of Azimio la Umoja insisting the protests are still on this week, but only on Wednesday from 6am to 6pm.

He said peace must prevail in the country at all times, adding that this will go a long way in building its own capacities in industries, manufacturing and production and other county aggregation ventures to cushion thousands of young people who join the job market annually.

Although this will take some time, Ruto stated that the journey to create jobs must start now, through deliberate and intentional Government policies.

According to Ruto, the country’s economy has now stabilized following his tough interventions in the last eight months and insisted that the Government can no longer continue running the country on the basis of borrowing.

“We must stop embarrassing ourselves before the international community. We must respect ourselves and know that we cannot continue building and a few go to destroy,” he stated.

He promised to work with other leaders saying that the price of flour will not go down if the opposition continues with its protests and instead, should invest on farmers, which will see the country’s food basket increase and the cost of living will go down.

“Wale wanashindana na sisi wanasema ati njia ya kubadilisha bei ya chakula ni kufanya maandamano na kuvaa sufuria kwa kichwa. Hata kwa uganga ama uchawi, ama hata dawa itabadilika namna gani? Our competitors are saying that changing the prices of food will be through protests and putting sufurias on their heads. Even with witchcraft or other odd ways will the cost of living go down?” he posed.

On his part, Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi said all Kenyans must be protected and led without any form of discrimination.

He took a swipe on some leaders who have formed a habit of using their community to shield themselves from bad acts they involve themselves in.