Kenya, July 20 -- President William Ruto's parenting remarks, made during a church service at the African Inland Church (AIC) Bomani in Machakos County, have ignited a firestorm of debate amid ongoing anti-government protests.
Speaking at the consecration of Bishop Benjamin Kalanzo, Ruto stated, "The police are trained to deal with criminals, not parenting. If you surrender your children to the police, what do you expect?"
The comments, aimed at urging parents to mentor youth to curb unrest, have drawn sharp criticism for appearing to deflect responsibility for police brutality during the June 25, 2025, protests, which left at least eight dead and over 400 injured, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
Ruto's statement comes as Kenya grapples with a wave of Gen Z-led protests against economic hardship, corruption, and police violence, with demonstrators chanting "Ruto must go" and "wantam" (one term).
The president's remarks, part of a broader call for parents and churches to instil moral values, have been labelled tone-deaf by critics, especially after the July 7 Saba Saba protests saw 31 deaths and 532 arrests, as reported by KNCHR.
Opposition leaders like Kalonzo Musyoka and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua have accused Ruto of endorsing excessive force, particularly after his July 9 order for police to "shoot protesters in the leg" to curb looting, a directive mocked on X with AI-generated crutch memes.
The protests, sparked by the 2024 Finance Bill and reignited by the death of blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody, reflect deep public frustration.
Ruto's parenting comments echo his December 2024 plea in Homa Bay, where he urged parents to guide children to prevent abductions linked to state agents.
However, his latest remarks, accusing parents of inciting youth, have intensified public anger, with people calling the police "public servants, not mercenaries."
Critics argue Ruto's focus on parental responsibility ignores systemic issues like unemployment, which affects 35% of Kenyan youth, and a 7.5% GDP budget deficit post-IMF program.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty Kenya, estimate 16 deaths during the June 25 protests, with 83 requiring specialised treatment for gunshot wounds.
The KNCHR condemned the "deeply troubling" rise in casualties, while Chief Justice Martha Koome warned that violent protests threaten Kenya's democratic fabric. Ruto's government, accused of censoring media by banning live protest coverage and restricting Telegram, has faced international criticism from the UN and Western embassies for eroding public trust through plainclothes officers and hired goons.
Despite Ruto's claim that abductions have ceased, activists report ongoing enforced disappearances.
Ruto's remarks also follow the July 11 funeral of vendor Boniface Kariuki, shot at close range during protests, a death that symbolised state-sanctioned brutality.
Opposition leaders demanded Ruto's resignation, with Musyoka calling his shoot-in-the-leg order unconstitutional.
On social media, sentiments like "Ruto's war on Gen Z" reflect youth disillusionment with a president elected in 2022 on promises to uplift the "hustler nation."
Analysts like Rose Mumanya note that Ruto's past ICC charges for 2007 election violence and recent police actions alienate young voters, potentially costing him re-election in 2027.
The president's call for societal responsibility, urging churches to mentor youth, aligns with his December 2024 comments in Uasin Gishu, where he linked rising crime to lax parenting.
As Ruto defends his leadership, vowing to maintain stability, the debate over his parenting rhetoric shows a deepening divide between the government and its youth, threatening his political legacy.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.