NAIROBI, Kenya — Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen condemned a Sh50,000 cash bail that he believes sends the wrong message to violent protestors.
Speaking during a state of security address in Nairobi on Tuesday, July 15, Murkomen tore into what he called “unacceptably lenient” court decisions after suspects accused of invading a Kitengela hospital during the Saba Saba Day protests were released on what he sees as a slap-on-the-wrist bail.
“Surely, a Sh50,000 cash bail after invading a hospital?” Murkomen asked in disbelief. “To infringe on the privacy of hospitals is an offence most foul.”
The Cabinet Secretary didn’t stop there. He confirmed that more than 1,500 suspects have been arrested nationwide since the Saba Saba protests erupted on July 7, facing serious charges like terrorism, murder, and destruction of property.
The July 7 demonstrations, which began peacefully, quickly spiraled into chaos across several parts of the country—including Kitengela, which saw some of the worst violence. .
The hospital invasion, caught on video and widely shared online, sparked outrage from medical professionals and civil society.
Murkomen used the moment to underscore his administration’s hardline stance against what he described as “organized lawlessness masquerading as protest.”
“There is a difference between peaceful demonstration and targeted criminality,” he said.
His frustration over the Kitengela bail ruling comes amid growing tension between the government and the judiciary.
During the same press briefing, the interior CS denied the existence ofa police killer squad. He said that such a squad would be unconstitutional.
While the Constitution guarantees the right to bail, Murkomen’s remarks hint at pressure from the executive for stiffer penalties, especially in politically charged cases involving public infrastructure and critical services.
The Saba Saba protests, largely led by Gen Z activists, have exposed deeper fractures in Kenya’s social fabric—from youth unemployment to governance grievances.
As for Kitengela, the scars from that day remain visible—not just in shattered glass and burnt-out tyres—but in the country’s ongoing debate about justice, accountability, and the fine line between police dealing with protesters and fueling chaos.
