Ekuru Aukot: Ruto is confirming what CS Murkomen said on shoot to kill
By Aloys Michael, July 10, 2025The Thirdway Alliance leader, Ekuru Aukot, has scoffed at President William Ruto, saying his remarks supporting Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen underscored the government’s commitment to halting waves of looting and violence.
In an interview on a local TV station on Thursday, July 10, 2025, Aukot cautioned against the remarks from the Head of State calling for a more coherent way to address issues.
“The President is confirming what the Cabinet Secretary for Interior Security and National Administration, Kipchumba Murkomen, on to shoot-to-kill order.
“Such statements should not come from the President of s country. It is dangerous, and it shows that Ruto is a frustrated man.”
The comments follow Ruto’s directive on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, in which he insisted that police should shoot in the leg those involved in burning or looting property, aiming to incapacitate, not kill. During a visit to the Kilimani police housing project.
“A person who is going to burn another person’s business and property… such a person should be shot in the legs, taken to the hospital and then to court. They should not kill him, but they should shoot his legs,” Ruto said.
Addressing mounting unrest, Ruto declared “enough is enough”, warning that attacking police stations amounted to “a declaration of war” and equated those behind such acts to terrorists.
The President’s stance directly echoes instructions made earlier by CS Murkomen. The interior minister had instructed police to shoot on sight anyone approaching police stations during demonstrations.
“Na tumeambia polisi mtu yeyote atakaribia police station piga yeye risasi” (“Police have been told: whoever approaches a police station, shoot them”).
Ruto’s endorsement of this intensified rhetoric is widely interpreted as validating Murkomen’s controversial remarks.
Civil society and human rights groups continue to urge restraint, pointing to over 50 deaths in recent protests and rising concerns about police militarisation. Aukot warn that while Ruto’s position may offer immediate deterrence, it risks escalating tensions and potentially crossing legal limits.
“The alignment with the administration suggests a broader political acceptance of tougher law-and-order tactics and makes clear that the President’s endorsement of Murkomen’s shoot rhetoric signals unity at the top of government leadership,” he said.