GARSEN, Kenya – Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has defended his controversial stance on the use of lethal force by police officers, insisting that law enforcement has the right to protect themselves and the public during violent confrontations.
Speaking during the official opening of Tarasaa Sub-County headquarters and the swearing-in of a Deputy County Commissioner in Oda, Garsen, Murkomen dismissed criticism of his “shoot-to-kill” remarks, saying the directive is not new and mirrors statements made by past leaders.
“The other day, while in Dagoretti and Kikuyu, I said that police have the right to defend themselves and protect the lives of others,” he said. “And I will repeat this a million times because I am not the first person to say it.”
He cited former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and former President Uhuru Kenyatta as having previously made similar pronouncements regarding police conduct in the face of violent threats.
Standing Firm on National Security
Murkomen stressed that holding a national security docket requires firmness and clarity, warning against what he termed as “petty political theatrics” aimed at undermining law enforcement.
“If you sit in a seat like mine, you must understand your duty is to protect the lives of Kenyans and ensure the country’s security,” he said. “Now they want to say if it’s Murkomen, it’s wrong? Is it wrong to stand and say the police must be protected?”
He urged critics to stop politicizing security matters, saying his commitment is to the safety of all Kenyans.
Legal and Rights Groups Condemn Remarks
Murkomen’s comments have drawn strong rebuke from rights groups and legal experts.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) described the directive as “ultra vires” and unconstitutional, noting that the use of firearms by police is strictly governed by the National Police Service Act and cannot be ordered arbitrarily by government officials.
Human rights defenders have also warned that such pronouncements could lead to misuse of force and escalate tensions between police and citizens, especially in the wake of recent youth-led protests that have seen dozens of deaths linked to police action.
Ruto’s Position: Shoot to Incapacitate
President William Ruto has also weighed in, issuing his own directive that protesters who engage in criminal activity such as arson and looting should be shot in the legs—a statement that has similarly stirred controversy.
“A person who burns another person’s business and property should be shot in the legs, taken to hospital, then to court,” Ruto said during a police housing launch in Kilimani, Nairobi.
The President insisted that the government would not tolerate destruction of property under the guise of peaceful protest and blamed unnamed political figures for allegedly fueling unrest.
