The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has hit out at the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Charles Kahariri, and National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director General Noordin Haji for lecturing Kenyans on the ‘Ruto Must Go’ slogan.

KHRC, in a statement issued on Friday, March 28, 2025, said that the move by Kahariri and Haji is an outright assault on Kenyans’ constitutional rights.

According to the human rights group, there is no authority—military, intelligence, or executive—that can override the sovereignty of the people.

“The warning by Chief of Defence Forces Charles Kahariri and National Intelligence Service Director General Noordin Haji against the “Ruto Must Go” slogan is an outright assault on Kenyans’ constitutional rights. No authority—military, intelligence, or executive—can override the sovereignty of the people. Article 1 of the constitution states all sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya,” the KHRC statement reads in part.

KHRC further stated that the warning by Kahariri and the NIS boss borders on political blackmail against those who stand up to oppressive power.

“Thus, Kenyans are the creators of the constitution and all the institutions therein—including, but not limited to, the executive and the attendant state security apparatus—which must all remain subject to the will and interests of the people. That is the essence of the notion of mwananchi mwenye nchi. What we are witnessing is the true definition of McCarthyism, bordering on political blackmail against those who stand up to oppressive power. Therefore, everything Kenyans have done while chanting “Ruto Must Go” has remained within the confines of the constitution and their sovereign power and authority. If anything, it is the military, intelligence service, and the executive that have acted outside the law,” KHRC stated.

KHRC on KDF deployment

The commission listed the deployment of the military in June 2024 when Kenyans breached Parliament to reclaim their power and the linking of NIS to enforced disappearances as some of the incidents in which the two institutions acted outside the law.

“This goes against the constitutional expectations regarding the conduct of the executive and national security with respect to the protection of democracy, human rights, freedoms, and the rule of law. Given this, neither Kahariri nor Haji has the moral authority to lecture Kenyans about upholding the constitution—they have trampled upon it. The people’s right to express discontent, assemble peacefully, and demand accountability is protected by the constitution,” the statement read.

“Kenyans will not bow to unconstitutional decrees. The people and the constitution are supreme—not the government, not the military, and certainly not the intelligence service or any other arm of government. We will defend our right to self determination. We will defend our right to speak, express and assemble. We will forever defend our sovereignty as per our political culture of rebellion against repression.”

Kahariri’s warning

Kahariri has warned Kenyans chanting ‘Ruto Must Go’ slogans to ensure that they do so through Constitutional means.

Speaking at the National Intelligence and Research University in Nairobi during a public lecture by National Intelligence Service (NIS) boss Noordin Haji, Kahariri stated that any attempts to transfer power must be made through acceptable means, lest Kenyans risk destroying the country.

“We cannot exercise anarchy, and even as people exercise their rights, it should be within their bounds, within their rights, such that we cannot allow ourselves to exercise our rights to the extent of tearing apart the country,” Kahariri stated.

“We, as the military, defend the Constitution and the government of the day, duly elected by the people. So when you decide that you are tired of the government you elected and then you start chanting ‘Must Go’, ‘Must Go’, that ‘Must Go’ must be done according to the Constitution,” Kahariri warned.