Kipchumba Murkomen’s decision to issue a shoot-to-kill order against protesters has sparked outrage across the country. On June 26, 2025, while visiting police stations damaged during the previous day’s protests, Murkomen made a chilling statement: anyone trying to enter a police station should be shot.
Instead of calming the situation, his words were met with loud jeers from the public, showing just how disconnected he has become from the people he claims to protect. What was supposed to be a message of control and authority turned into a clear display of recklessness and a disregard for human life.
In a country still reeling from years of police brutality, his order sounded like a death sentence for many innocent citizens. The protests on June 25 were violent, no doubt. Several police stations were attacked, government vehicles were destroyed, and there was looting in different areas and they point to a well calculated police involvement deal.
But responding to this chaos with orders to kill is a dangerous path. As Interior Cabinet Secretary, Murkomen’s job is to ensure security, not to escalate tensions by endorsing extrajudicial killings. His shoot-to-kill instruction was not only unlawful but also a betrayal of the Constitution he swore to uphold.
In Kenya, the police are trained to use force only when absolutely necessary and as a last resort. Ordering them to shoot without a trial or warning strips citizens of their rights and sets a dangerous precedent.
Many Kenyans and leaders were quick to condemn Murkomen’s reckless remarks. Saboti MP Caleb Amisi warned against normalizing murder under the guise of national security. Lawyer Willis Otieno reminded police officers that following such illegal orders would leave them personally liable.
On social media, video clips showed Murkomen being heckled and chased out of Nairobi CBD, a clear sign that people are tired of violent and tone-deaf leadership.
Even as Murkomen tried to paint the protests as a coup attempt, his narrative fell flat. The public could see the truth this was a frightened government trying to control dissent through fear and bullets.
Beyond the legal issues, Murkomen’s words have moral consequences. Encouraging the use of deadly force on young protesters is a cruel move, especially in a country where many are simply asking for justice, fairness, and opportunity.
Instead of addressing the root causes of the anger corruption, unemployment, and oppression he chose to threaten lives. Kenya is not a battlefield, and its people are not enemies of the state.
The violence during the protests must be investigated and criminals held accountable, but not through summary executions ordered by a Cabinet Secretary with no legal authority to do so.
Murkomen’s failure to lead with wisdom and restraint shows just how unfit he is for the position he holds. His response has only deepened mistrust between citizens and the government. If anything, his order has brought more anger, more division, and more danger.
A true leader de-escalates tension and builds trust. Instead, Murkomen poured fuel on the fire. His actions deserve serious scrutiny, and he must be held accountable for promoting what could turn into state-sponsored killings.
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