{"id":112653,"date":"2025-03-29T07:03:16","date_gmt":"2025-03-29T07:03:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/index.php\/2025\/03\/29\/karua-faults-gen-kahariri-for-standing-in-the-way-of-ruto-must-go-crusaders\/"},"modified":"2025-03-29T07:03:16","modified_gmt":"2025-03-29T07:03:16","slug":"karua-faults-gen-kahariri-for-standing-in-the-way-of-ruto-must-go-crusaders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/karua-faults-gen-kahariri-for-standing-in-the-way-of-ruto-must-go-crusaders\/","title":{"rendered":"Karua faults Gen Kahariri for standing in the way of \u2018Ruto Must Go\u2019 crusaders"},"content":{"rendered":"

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 29 \u2013 People\u2019s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua has strongly criticized remarks made by the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Charles Kahariri, regarding ongoing calls by a section of Kenyans for President William Ruto\u2019s resignation.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Karua termed Kahariri\u2019s warning against the \u201cRuto Must Go\u201d movement\u2014 which has been growing since the eruption of the deadly Gen Z protests in June 2024\u2014 as an affront to the Constitution of Kenya.<\/p>\n

In a statement on Friday, Karua expressed deep concern over what she described as \u201cunusual and alarming statements\u201d from the military chief.<\/p>\n

She argued that Kahariri\u2019s comments amounted to interference in Kenya\u2019s political affairs, warning that such actions undermine constitutional democracy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sovereignty of the Kenyan people and the supremacy of the Constitution are matters that have been settled both in our jurisprudence and political culture as a constitutional democracy,\u201d she asserted.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is therefore disturbing that the head of the armed forces should descend into the arena of partisan politics and purport to direct Kenyans on how far they should exercise their hard-won liberties.\u201d<\/p>\n

Legal limits <\/h2>\n

General Kahariri made the remarks during an inaugural public lecture on national security at the National Intelligence and Research University (NIRU), a National Intelligence Service-affiliate on Thursday.<\/p>\n

The General emphasized that while citizens have the right to express their views, they must do so within legal and constitutional boundaries.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t have anarchy as a country. Even as people exercise their rights, they must do so within certain limits. We cannot allow people to exercise their rights to the extent of tearing apart the country,\u201d Kahariri said.<\/p>\n

He reiterated that the military remains apolitical and is committed to defending the Constitution and the government elected by the people.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen people decide that they are tired of the current government, which they themselves elected, and start saying \u2018must go, must go,\u2019 that must be done according to the Constitution,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Kahariri also defended the military\u2019s deployment during the 2024 protests, saying it was a necessary measure to protect the republic.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen people question why the military was deployed\u2026 we have a responsibility. We took an oath to defend the Constitution and the republic,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n

Legitimate feedback<\/h2>\n

Karua emphasized that the public\u2019s calls for President Ruto\u2019s resignation\u2014 commonly expressed in the slogan \u201cRuto Must Go\u201d\u2014 constitute legitimate political feedback that the government must take seriously.<\/p>\n

According to Karua, attempts to dismiss or suppress such sentiments through intimidation by security officials are unacceptable.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe calls of \u2018Ruto Must Go\u2019 are part of healthy feedback, which Dr. Ruto and his administration must take seriously,\u201d she insisted.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey cannot be wished away by indirect threats or intimidation by our esteemed security personnel, who have no business cautioning, advising, or admonishing Kenyans on their very lawful feedback.\u201d<\/p>\n

Karua advised General Kahariri to channel any concerns regarding national security through the appropriate forums, such as the National Security Council, where he serves alongside the Director of the National Intelligence Service and the Attorney General.<\/p>\n

She further urged Parliament to summon the leadership of the country\u2019s defense forces to account for what she termed an \u201cassault on constitutionalism.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe longstanding tradition of an apolitical military is a major guarantor of the stability and endurance of our democratic experiment,\u201d Karua noted.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt a time when our country and region are faced with multiple threats, the least of General Kahariri\u2019s worries should be the theater of political contestation, especially when it is being conducted legitimately.\u201d<\/p>\n

Karua\u2019s remarks add to growing concerns over the perceived involvement of the military and the NIS in political matters, with observers cautioning against any actions that could erode the country\u2019s democratic gains.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 29 \u2013 People\u2019s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua has strongly criticized remarks made by the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Charles Kahariri, regarding ongoing calls by a section of Kenyans for President William Ruto\u2019s resignation. Karua termed Kahariri\u2019s warning against the \u201cRuto Must Go\u201d movement\u2014 which has been growing since the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-112653","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","entry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112653","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=112653"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112653\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=112653"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=112653"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=112653"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}