Kenya's Ruto vows to deal with those involved in criminal activity during protests

Record ID: 1717580

  • Title: Kenya's Ruto vows to deal with those involved in criminal activity during protests
  • Date: 28th March 2023
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (MARCH 28, 2023) (REUTERS) GERMAN CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZ AND KENYAN PRESIDENT WILLIAM RUTO WALKING TO LECTERNS SCHOLZ TALKING DURING PRESS CONFERENCE, RUTO LISTENING (SOUNDBITES) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR, OLAF SCHOLZ, SAYING: "Our two countries are linked by close and cooperative partnerships. And this is not just about relations between governments. It is about friendship between our societies. The economic contacts are good. German and Kenyan companies work closely together. Our trade unions exchange ideas." SCHOLZ TALKING, FILMED IN CAMERA MONITOR (SOUNDBITES) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR, OLAF SCHOLZ, SAYING: "Kenya is an established and functioning democracy, and it is a stabilizing factor in a troubled region. For the management of crises in East Africa, in Somalia, in Ethiopia, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya is making an irreplaceable contribution. Germany would like to support Kenya even more in this role in the future." JOURNALISTS LISTENING (SOUNDBITES) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR, OLAF SCHOLZ, SAYING: "I also strongly advocate for the internal economic partnership agreements between the European Union and Kenya to be concluded. Kenyan companies should have better access to the European market and be included in fair, sustainable supply chains. After all, Kenya is the third largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa and a pioneer in digitalization. Such an agreement would be an important intermediate step on the way to an African free trade area, which we are also happy to support intensively." RUTO TALKING, SCHOLZ LISTENING (SOUNDBITES) (English) KENYAN PRESIDENT, WILLIAM RUTO, SAYING: "And I want to tell you that we have no exceptions on respect for the rule of law, and we also don't have exceptions on protection of property or lives. Everybody must respect the rule of law and everybody is entitled to the protection of their property and of their assets and of their lives by the government of Kenya." CAMERAS (SOUNDBITES) (English) KENYAN PRESIDENT, WILLIAM RUTO, SAYING: "It is unthinkable for any government to participate in the destruction of property of citizens. I want to tell you, as I tell Kenyans and members of the global community, that the government of Kenya will make sure that the property and lives of all Kenyans, including our visitors, will be protected. And those involved in criminal activity, including the invasions, will be brought to book." RUTO TALKING, SCHOLZ AND JOURNALISTS LISTENING (SOUNDBITES) (English) KENYAN PRESIDENT, WILLIAM RUTO, SAYING: "And we've agreed that the EU, under the leadership of Germany, will support our efforts in stabilising our region. And I have also made a commitment that as a country we are signatories to the U.N. Charter and the respect for territorial integrity of countries is a cardinal principle of our beliefs, both as a country and as a region. And any aggression anywhere is actually aggression everywhere. And we are very strong believers that the war in Europe should be brought to an end and the aggression against Ukraine is unjustified in any way." CAMERAS (SOUNDBITES) (English) KENYAN PRESIDENT, WILLIAM RUTO, SAYING: "Let me also put it on record that Kenya has been pushing for the last ten years variable geometry on the application of the EPAs. And I now I can confirm with the support of Germany that tomorrow we will be having the final meeting in Brussels, where Kenya finally will be able to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement between Kenya and Europe to allow us opportunity to export our valuable products into the European market. And that will serve as an interim agreement as we wait for the rest of the members of the East African community to prepare themselves and so that we can all sign the agreement together later." RUTO AND SCHOLZ SHAKING HANDS AND WALKING AWAY
  • Embargoed: 11th April 2023 17:37
  • Keywords: Germany Kenya Olaf Scholz
  • Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
  • City: BERLIN, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Europe,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001078928032023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Kenya's President William Ruto on Tuesday (March 28) said he would deal with all those involved in criminal activity during Monday's (March 27) protest in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
    During a news conference with German chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, he said that there were no exceptions on respect for the rule of law or protection of property or lives
    "Everybody must respect the rule of law and everybody is entitled to the protection of their property and of their assets and of their lives by the government of Kenya," said Ruto. "I want to tell you, as I tell Kenyans and members of the global community, that the government of Kenya will make sure that the property and lives of all Kenyans, including our visitors, will be protected. And those involved in criminal activity, including the invasions, will be brought to book."
    His remarks came after clashes broke out on Monday during a second week of protests against the government and high food prices, with one person shot dead in the western city of Kisumu. The clashes broke out as opposition leader Raila Odinga's convoy passed through the Kawangware neighborhood in Nairobi.
    Hundreds of supporters had gathered around the convoy, shouting "Ruto must go." Kenyan police fired teargas and water cannons at stone-throwing supporters of opposition leader.
    (Production: Tobias Schlie, Anna Dittrich)
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