{"id":50708,"date":"2025-07-11T11:17:15","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T15:17:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/kenya-opposition-leaders-demand-presidents-resignation-over-shooting-comments\/11\/07\/2025\/"},"modified":"2025-07-11T11:17:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T15:17:15","slug":"kenya-opposition-leaders-demand-presidents-resignation-over-shooting-comments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/kenya-opposition-leaders-demand-presidents-resignation-over-shooting-comments\/11\/07\/2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Kenya opposition leaders demand president’s resignation over shooting comments"},"content":{"rendered":"

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GITHUNGURI, Kenya (AP) \u2014 Kenya\u2019s opposition leaders demanded the president\u2019s resignation over his call for police to shoot those found stealing or burning property during protests, as mourners on Friday attended the burial of a Kenyan civilian who was shot at close range<\/a> by a police officer during a recent demonstration.<\/p>\n

Opposition figure Kalonzo Musyoka said the president\u2019s order was \u201cagainst the constitution\u201d and that he should \u201cresign or be impeached.\u201d<\/p>\n

President William Ruto said on Wednesday that he would not allow \u201canarchy\u201d in the country disguised as peaceful demonstrations, and called for police to shoot and \u201cbreak the legs\u201d of those found looting or damaging property during protests.<\/p>\n

Human rights groups have called for restraint among police officers as waves of protests<\/a> have rocked Kenya in recent weeks. More than 50 people have died in the two major demonstrations, according to the state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.<\/p>\n

The unrest began when the death of a blogger in police custody<\/a> last month angered many Kenyans, and tensions heightened after the shooting of the civilian, Boniface Kariuki.<\/p>\n

Kariuki was selling face masks to protesters during an anti-police brutality demonstration on June 17 when two officers appeared to confront him and shot him in the head as he walked away.<\/p>\n

On Thursday, an officer was charged with his murder. A plea hearing for the officer is set for July 28.<\/p>\n

Thousands turned out for protests on June 25, which coincided with the one-year anniversary of huge anti-tax protests.<\/p>\n

At Kariuki\u2019s burial in Githunguri, Murang\u2019a county, his body arrived in a white coffin draped with a Kenyan flag and a photo showing the moment he was shot was placed next to it. Young people danced around the coffin while waving a Kenyan flag.<\/p>\n

No uniformed police officers were observed at the burial venue, but antiriot police remained deployed around Murang\u2019a town.<\/p>\n

Murang\u2019a County Governor Irungu Kang\u2019ata said local leaders would ensure justice is served.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe government must take responsibility for the killing of Boniface,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Several mothers of the more than 100 young people who have died in protests since last year\u2019s anti-tax demonstrations were present at the burial.<\/p>\n

Four police officers are currently in custody over the recent deaths of young people and are facing murder charges in court.<\/p>\n

Three officers were last month charged with the death of blogger Albert Ojwang in custody. Police had said he died after repeatedly banging his head on a wall, but a postmortem report stated that the injuries were not self-inflicted.<\/p>\n

Another officer, Klinzy Barasa, on Thursday appeared in court where prosecution approved murder charges against him. He is expected to submit a plea on July 28.<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014-<\/p>\n

Musambi reported from Nairobi, Kenya<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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GITHUNGURI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s opposition leaders demanded the president’s resignation over his call for police to shoot those found stealing or