Khalwale urges Ruto, Murkomen to withdraw protest shooting orders
By Cy Muganda, July 11, 2025Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has called on President William Ruto and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to rescind recent directives that appear to endorse the shooting of protesters, warning that such actions threaten the lives and future of Kenya’s youth.
Speaking during a public event in Butere constituency on Friday, July 11, 2025, Khalwale expressed strong opposition to remarks made by the president and CS Murkomen suggesting police should shoot violent demonstrators found destroying property during protests.
“That business of supporting the President when he says our youth should be shot in the leg — that is your own stance, not the position of the Luhya people,” he stated.
The Senator emphasised that the Luhya community’s cultural values fundamentally oppose killing, even in cases of serious crimes.
“Luhyas do not kill people. I don’t know if there’s an elder here who disagrees, but in Luhya culture, even if a thief steals all your cows, we do not kill them,” Khalwale said.
Listen to the youth
The senator, a long-time supporter of the Kenya Kwanza administration, broke ranks with Ruto and Murkomen, expressing his disagreement over what he termed an unconstitutional and culturally insensitive directive.
Khalwale urged the government to treat young people with dignity rather than criminalising them.
“We don’t kill people. That is why I would like to respectfully disagree with CS Murkomen. I also disagree with the President. These children — if a child has eaten to satisfaction, they cannot go stealing from your home. The government must listen to our youth,” he said.
Concerns raised
He questioned Murkomen’s logic behind directing law enforcement to shoot individuals near police stations, highlighting scenarios in which young people might approach police for legitimate reasons, such as reporting crimes or seeking opportunities during recruitment drives.
“What if a young person goes to the police station to file a report that their motorbike has been stolen — and then you say shoot to kill? Where will they take that report? he posed.
Khalwale also raised concerns about access to these services if there is a threat of being shot.
“What if a young person shows up at the station because they’ve heard there’s a recruitment drive happening, and they want to make friends and get a chance to be considered — and then you shoot them? How will they ever get a job? he added.
The senator concluded by urging Ruto to reconsider the implications of such directives.
“That is why I want to tell the President very peacefully and with a lot of respect: the future of this country is our youth. And these youth, we must nurture them,” he said.