Murkomen explains context behind his shoot-to-kill directive
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has come out to explain the context behind his shoot-to-kill order for police station invaders.
Speaking during a joint media engagement in Turkana County on Wednesday night, July 16, 2025, Murkomen clarified that his directive was aimed at those attacking police officers and police stations, not peaceful protesters.
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“There is a big mistake and propaganda going on. When I went to Kikuyu, I had a conversation with the public about the use of force, firearms and shooting, and the word I used was piga risasi, and the conversation was around the invasion of the police station and the attack of the police officers,” he said.
“Some of the police officers told us that they were overpowered by a mob, with some carrying stones, others machetes, and five guns were stolen from the Dagorati police station, and in Kikuyu, they not only burnt the court but they tried to get into the armoury.”
The CS went on to say that he directed the police to use force to protect their lives and those of others.
“What I told the police was that they have the right to use a firearm and bullets to protect their lives and to protect the lives of others.
“It is not my words, it is the word of the law, the law expresses that there are circumstances under which a police officer can defend himself,” he added.
Murkomen’s order
This clarity comes after he faced a backlash following CS ordering the police to shoot invaders.
Speaking when he toured some of the police stations to assess the aftermath of the Wednesday, June 25, 2025, Gen Z memorial protests, Murkomen told the locals that he had ordered the police officers to shoot anyone who would invade a police station with ill intentions.
“Ile shida inafanya saa zingine polisi wapige wakora risasi ni kwa sababu wanashikwa, wanaenda alafu wanarudi kuchekelea polisi wakisema sasa tulifika wapi, hakuna kwenye tulienda. Na tumeambia polisi, mtu yeyote ambaye atakaribia police station, piga yeye risasi,” Murkomen said.
Loosely translated as: “The problem that sometimes makes the police shoot criminals is that they get arrested, are released, then come back to mock the police, asking, ‘So, where did you take us? Nowhere.’ And we’ve told the police, —Anyone who comes near a police station, shoot them.”
According to Murkomen, the goons targeted armouries and police uniforms at various police stations in the country.
