President William Ruto’s ministers have applauded Kenyan police, who were seen opening live rounds on protesters, killing about 40 and injuring hundreds, for acting professionally.

In meeting with Mr Ruto at the State House, Nairobi, his cabinet praised the police for being professional while quelling the protests, which they claimed “were infiltrated, hijacked and taken over by criminal and opportunistic political forces.”

“The cabinet was also informed that the security agencies have stabilised the situation and are continuing to monitor the developments,” a statement published on Kenyan government website said.

It added, “The members commended security officers, pointing out that they, on the whole, acted professionally in very difficult circumstances. The cabinet also noted that security agencies did a good job of protecting the country from anarchists.” 

This echoes Mr Ruto’s earlier position. He first labelled the protest’s treasonous acts and applauded the police for quelling the protests.

For three straight weeks, protesters matched on the streets of Kenya, disrupting commercial activities for the third week since the protests against the Finance Bill broke out on June 18.

Last Tuesday, however, the protests took a deadly trajectory as protesters occupied the parliament defying police’s teargas, water cannons and lives bullets. 

Footages of police opening live rounds on protesters, live bullet shells, and corpses of protesters flood the internet from Kenya, sparking global outrage against Mr Ruto, who, last Wednesday, announced the withdrawal of the bill. 

Amnesty International had accused Mr Ruto of deploying snipers to shoot down protesters, calling for his trial at the International Criminal Court. 

Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reported that 39 were killed, hundreds injured, and over 30 enforced disappearances were recorded while lamenting police used “excessive and disproportionate force” on protesters.

Governor of Migori County, Ochillo Ayacko, had also condemned Kenyan police for using brute force against anti-Finance Bill protesters, shooting them in the back as they fled. 

However, Mr Ruto, in an interview with journalists on Sunday night, said there was no blood on his hands in pushback against criticisms that he watched police kill protesters before withdrawing the controversial bill. 

Earlier, Kenyan authorities declared some anti-Finance bill protesters wanted as the protests run into its third week.