Nairobi, Kenya (AFP)-Kenyan President William Ruto warned Wednesday against attempts to “overthrow” the government through “unconstitutional means” and ordered police to shoot violent protesters in the leg, days after 31 people were killed in nationwide anti-government demonstrations.

His toughest remarks yet come as the east African nation faces a wave of protests over economic stagnation, corruption and police brutality.

“They want to start chaos, organise protests, burn people’s property, bring disaster so as to overthrow the government before 2027… This is a democratic country,” Ruto told supporters in the capital Nairobi, speaking in Swahili.

“This country will not be destroyed by a few people who are impatient and want a change of government through unconstitutional means,” he said.

“You cannot sponsor violence and go scot-free,” he added, saying any attacks on the police would be seen as a “declaration of war”.

Ruto, who was elected in 2022, also said protesters who engaged in violence “should be shot in the leg, be taken to hospital and taken to court”.

– Children arrested –

The demonstrations began in June last year as a youth-led anti-taxation protest, which subsequently forced the government to withdraw the contested finance bill.

But some of Kenya’s youth are once again taking to the streets, with protests last month degenerated into looting and violence, killing dozens and destroying thousands of businesses.

Many young Kenyans are disillusioned by the economic situation, corruption and high taxes, as well as police brutality after a teacher died in custody last month.

Fifty-one people have died in protests over the last two months, according to an AFP tally citing rights groups.

Rallies early this week saw hundreds arrested and scores wounded.

Rights groups said 31 people died on Monday across the country in protests marking the anniversary of July 7, 1990, when Kenyans rose up to demand a return to multi-party democracy after years of autocratic rule by then-president Daniel arap Moi.

UNICEF condemned the killing of a 12-year-old girl by a stray bullet while she was at home in Kiambu county, some 16 kilometres (nine miles) from the capital, as well as the arrest of minors during the protests.

“Children must be protected from harm at all times and under all circumstances,” the United Nations agency said.

Kenyan rights group Vocal Africa said two minors arrested during the protests had been released.

Protesters have accused the authorities of paying armed vandals to discredit their movement, while the government compared a demonstration in June to an “attempted coup”.