Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi has called for restraint and sober dialogue following President William Ruto’s controversial directive instructing police to shoot protesters in the leg.

Speaking during an interview with Tv 47 on July 13, 2025, Mudavadi acknowledged the growing frustrations among Kenyans, particularly over rising unemployment and economic pressures, but cautioned against escalating tensions on both sides.

“It's understandable for citizens to be angry when they’re jobless,” he said. “But just as the use of live ammunition is troubling, so is the trend of storming security facilities. Both are wrong.”

Pressed on whether the president’s directive was appropriate given the political mood in the country, Mudavadi avoided direct criticism but emphasized the need for a collective pause and reassessment.

“We all need to step back and ask ourselves: are we truly headed in the right direction?” he posed.

The Prime CS admitted that current government strategies might not be delivering the intended results and called for an honest re-evaluation of the way forward.

“The current approach is clearly not producing the outcomes we had hoped for,” he said, adding that the mood in the country reflected even in media commentary signals a growing disillusionment.

“I’ve seen editorials from major publications pointing out that we may have lost our way,” Mudavadi observed.

He appealed to both the government and protestors to seek common ground, urging leaders to listen more and citizens to express grievances in a way that preserves national stability.

“For those of us in leadership, we must open our ears. And for those on the streets, let’s also be pragmatic,” he said.

Mudavadi ended his remarks with a call for calm and reflection, urging the nation to take stock and find a path forward together.

“Let’s all take a breath step back and consider how best we move ahead as one people,” he concluded.