Thursday, February 05, 2026 - Vocal United Democratic Alliance (UDA) legislator and close ally of President William Ruto, Belgut Member of Parliament, Nelson Koech, has publicly apologized for the controversial remarks he made eight months ago endorsing the “shoot to kill” orders against Gen Z protesters.
Koech, who chairs the National Assembly’s Defence,
Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee, had previously defended Ruto’s
directive that police aim at demonstrators’ legs, insisting at the time that
officers should instead “shoot and kill.”
His comments drew widespread condemnation, with critics accusing
him of advocating extra-judicial killings.
In an interview with Citizen TV on Thursday, Koech made a
dramatic U-turn, distancing himself from the controversial statement.
“I must have been misquoted. Those who know my character know I am
not that kind of person.”
“I unequivocally want to apologise. The sanctity of life is
provided for and guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bible which I believe
in,” he said.
He added: “I am totally embarrassed by that statement. It
came in the heat of the moment and I should have been more careful.”
Koech’s July 2025 remarks had come amid heightened tensions,
when protesters threatened to march to State House during the June 25th
anniversary demonstrations.
At the time, he argued that “shoot to kill” was necessary to
prevent property destruction and loss of lives, claiming violent actors had
hijacked peaceful protests against police brutality.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
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