Murang’a senator calls out Murkomen over shoot-to-kill order
Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu has added to the recent criticism of remarks made by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who on Thursday, June 26, 2025, issued shoot-to-kill orders on anyone trying to storm a police station.
The CS made the order following the chaotic scenes that marred the first anniversary of the June 25 protest across the country.
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The development drew criticism from members of the political class, with Nyutu the latest to lambast the Interior CS during an address in the senate on Friday, June 27, 2025.
Act responsibly
“We have had the loss of life and property before the happening of yesterday. We condemn in the strongest terms possible any loss of life and destruction of property. We must address some of these things, as this is not the way to go,” he affirmed.
“We must also call out the CS for the interior. We must be more responsible. He appeared in this house about a killing, and we are disturbed to hear him ordering the police to shoot to kill and even referring to some other authority above him that we don’t need to be very smart to know which authority he was referring to,” he added.
The outspoken senator further called for the national government to act more responsibly with its relevant agencies, as people vested with the power to protect citizens
“This is our country; if we don’t have peace, it will all be in vain. The government must ensure the safety of Kenyans and must not hide in the sand and start blaming other people after things have been done. We have the NIS, they must be able to foil plans to destroy property,” he stated.
Nyutu’s condemnation of the order comes after the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) also castigated the CS’s order.
In a statement released on Friday, June 27, 2025, LSK President Faith Odhiambo described the directive as ultra vires, illegal and unconstitutional, cautioning law enforcement against acting on such orders.
She also pointed out that Murkomen himself has distanced his office from any role in commanding such drastic police action.
“We note that the Cabinet Secretary has no authority under the law to issue such an order,” Odhiambo stated firmly.
“Murkomen is on record in the National Assembly Hansard, distancing himself and his office from any involvement in issuing orders to the Inspector General and the National Police Service.”
Odhiambo emphasised the inviolability of the right to life, as enshrined in Kenya’s Constitution, noting it can only be limited under specific and clearly defined circumstances as provided by law.
LSK on Murkomen’s order
She warned that any use of excessive force or extrajudicial killings carried out under the guise of complying with Murkomen’s directive would be regarded as serious criminal acts.
“Any unjustified act of aggression, disproportionate use of force, and extrajudicial killing that is done under the guise of fulfilling this order will be deemed as a deliberate, premeditated crime,” she added.
The LSK president further urged Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to step in and ensure that officers uphold their constitutional duties and do not act on unlawful directives, even if assurances of immunity from prosecution are offered.
“Any officer found to be engaging in such criminal conduct will be prosecuted in their capacity, and the blame, to the extent of which command responsibility can be discerned, will fall at the feet of the Inspector General,” Odhiambo warned.
