Your premium access has ended, but the best of Nation.

Africa is still within reach.

Renew now to unlock exclusive stories and in-depth features.

A day before Tuesday's planned anti-government protests, President Ruto issued the strongest warning yet, vowing to stop the demonstrations and crush what he termed as the “tyranny of anonymous, faceless, formless, sponsored people” aiming to plunge Kenya into anarchy.

A tough-talking Ruto on Sunday said he would 'protect the nation' while noting that he had already given everyone a chance to air their views.

'I want to promise you that there will be no more protests; they are going to stop.

Enough is enough!” Dr.

Ruto said at Kipsonoi Primary School grounds in Bomet after attending a church service at Chebango African Gospel Church (AGC).

'Going forward, we will protect the country.

We will protect life and property.

We will stop the looters, the killers, mayhem, and anarchy because Kenya is a democracy and we want a peaceful, stable country.

Our issues are resolved using democratic means.

”He warned the demonstrators, led by Generation Zoomers (Gen Zs), of dire consequences in the coming days, as he declared that it would not be business as usual.

'We will deal firmly and resolutely with those who are engaged in mayhem, anarchy, destroying people’s property, causing the death of Kenyans, loss of property, and looting in the Republic of Kenya.

”A visibly frustrated Ruto listed the concessions he had made to appease the demonstrators, including dropping the Finance Bill and calling them to the table for talks, but they refused and asked him to go to X.

He went there, but they ran away.

He has called them for talks, but they have refused, saying they are faceless and formless.

'It cannot continue like this.

The country is much more important than any group of people.

We must stand together as a nation, protect the nation, and make sure Kenya is a democracy,” Dr.

Ruto stated.

The president’s warning now sets the stage for a major clash between security officers and protesters on Tuesday.

The demonstrators, who have vowed to shut down and fix the nation, are demanding the resignation of Dr.

Ruto, accusing his Kenya Kwanza regime of failing to deliver on the promises he made while seeking office in 2022.

The latest call for demonstrations gained momentum hours after the firing of six members of the Cabinet, including the Interior, Lands, Defence, Roads, Environment, and Attorney-General.

The protesters are demanding that the recycled nominees be dropped and new people given a chance to lead.

'As a country, we must never agree to replace our democracy with a dictatorship and tyranny of anonymous, faceless, formless, sponsored people who want to use violence and destruction of property and loss of lives to send our country to a state of anarchy,' Dr.

Ruto said.

President Ruto dared those he claimed were “funding” the protesters to come out and give their alternative views about the country's governance.

'I challenge those shadowy and faceless people sponsoring and funding the violence to step forward.

.

.

Let them not remain faceless,' he said.

In the past month, more than 50 people have been killed in the deadly protests, with deaths blamed on Kenya police, and property worth billions of shillings destroyed.

In an unprecedented move, anti-Finance Bill protesters on June 26 stormed Parliament, paralyzed business, vandalized it, and laid siege on the hallowed House for hours, sending speakers and MPs scampering for their safety.

“There is no place in Kenya, in our democracy, laws, or Constitution for anybody to have a free license to visit mayhem, anarchy, death, and violence on the people… We have a government to ensure lives and property are safe and secure, and we will do it,” Dr.

Ruto said.

Speaking for the first time after unveiling his first batch of 11 members of Cabinet secretaries, Dr.

Ruto said the country had had enough deaths and destruction of property and the government would no longer take it lying down.

At the same time, President Ruto asked the media to report responsibly and avoid what he termed as “fueling” the protests.

'The media should not be seen as encouraging the destruction of property and loss of lives that has been happening in the country.

That is irresponsible reporting.

If the country burns, there will be nothing to report about and nowhere to report from,' said the Head of State.

His comment comes days after the Press and media practitioners came under attack during and in the aftermath of the anti-government demonstrations.

On July 17, veteran journalist was killed, only a day after police shot and injured MediaMax Journalist Catherine Wanjeri wa Kariuki in Nakuru, while CNN photojournalist Fabien Muhire was sprayed with tear gas in Nairobi.

We are always looking for ways to improve our stories.

Let us know what you liked and what we can improve on.

Leaked letters lift the veil on the role of powerful players in the withdrawal of high-profile corruption trials.