Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has stirred national uproar after publicly declaring that police officers have been instructed to shoot anyone who approaches police stations during protests. His remarks, delivered in Swahili and captured on video, have raised fears of abuse of force and sparked widespread condemnation.
Highlights
- Murkomen told police to shoot anyone who nears a police station during unrest.
- The CS later clarified the order targets violent individuals, not civilians.
- Kenyans online and on-ground are calling out the statement as dangerous.
- His comments follow violent protests where police stations were stormed.
- Human rights groups are raising red flags over potential misuse.
Main Story
Speaking amid escalating protests across Kenya, CS Murkomen addressed police officers, saying, “Tumeambia polisi mtu yeyote akikaribia police station, piga yeye risasi,” meaning “We’ve told the police to shoot anyone who comes near a police station.” The statement, made on June 26 and shared widely on social media, immediately triggered backlash from both citizens and civil society.
Following the storm, Murkomen clarified that the directive was not blanket permission to harm civilians. He claimed the target was individuals attempting to storm police stations, steal firearms, or attack officers—as witnessed in some towns during the Gen Z-led protests. “This doesn’t apply to peaceful citizens seeking help,” he explained.
Rights defenders and online activists have criticised the language used, saying it risks being interpreted as a shoot-to-kill policy. They argue that such a vague order can be misused to justify unlawful killings, especially in high-tension protest zones. The Kenya Human Rights Commission has urged authorities to clarify the legal limits of such force.
This statement comes in the wake of violent confrontations between youth protesters and police, with reports of vandalised stations and stolen weapons. However, the public has demanded that law enforcement respond within constitutional limits and uphold human rights, even during unrest.
In tense moments, words from leaders carry weight. And when those words involve bullets, the line between security and suppression becomes dangerously thin.
