Kenyans on Sunday berated President William Ruto, calling him a “hypocrite” and a murderer following the police shooting and killing of anti-Finance Bill protesters during the week.

Mr Ruto, who rose to power courting Christians in churches two years ago, posted a photo of himself attending service in the early hours of Sunday, quoting a bible verse.

“Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them so that everyone may see your progress. – 1 Peter 2:1-3. Sunday service at Pentecostal Evangelistic Fellowship of Africa (PEFA) Church in Lolgorian, Narok County,” Mr Ruto tweeted. 

Mr Ruto’s photos and tweet did not sit well with many of his Kenyan followers, who reminded him of police shooting and killing of protesters last Tuesday and Wednesday.

With #RutoMustGo trending on X, some called the president a murderer for failing to sympathise with the protesters killed.

“Why go to church after your recent killings in Githurai? #RutoMustGo,” an X user, Mav_254, said. 

Another X user, @MissLingard14, said, “You kill people, then you run to hide in church, hypocrite.”

“After Killing innocent people, you’ve got the audacity to sit in front of the church ghasia wewe one day utakufa na uchomekee kabisaa,” said @chreztoph. 

A Kenyan, @ItsunKonfined, tweeted, “We are not seeing any progress under your administration, just killings and abduction. Umeenda kanisa kufanya Nini?”

Also, @jo_shuh said, “How do we find ourselves with budget gaps every year? How is Riggy G’s internet budget at 10M? Huyo mzee hata hukuwa na computer kweli? The problem people have with you is that you preach water, drink wine, and then overburden the people. We thought you’re the one, but you’re not!”

Another user, @Nche_esupardo, tweeted, “The work you’re doing with so much perfection is Abductions. You’re a pro. I salute you.”

For weeks, protests have rocked Kenya, from its capital, Nairobi, to Migori, Mr Ruto’s town, Edoret, to Mombasa, Kisumu to Githurai to other parts of the country, as citizens vehemently rejected the controversial Finance Bill despite proposing tax imposition on cars, phones, bread, sanitary pads, and other commodities despite suffering brutal attacks from police. 

About 25 deaths and 50 abductions have been recorded as police unleashed mayhem on anti-Finance Bill protesters, injuring hundreds. 

Amid the protest last Wednesday, Mr Ruto bowed to pressure, withdrawing the controversial bill after police killed 25 citizens, abducted over 50 and injured hundreds while youth remained on the streets. 

But Mr Ruto, who had earlier in the week labelled anti-tax protest “treasonous,” refused to sympathise with those killed and injured by police during the protests. 

Human rights organisation Amnesty International has petitioned President William Ruto to release “abducted and detained” anti-Finance Bill protesters and also set up a judicial commission of enquiry to probe into the “violence” unleashed on protesters during the nationwide protests.

Amnesty International Kenya had also accused Mr Ruto of inciting the police to massacre citizens, calling for his trial at the International Criminal Court.