Wamuchomba condemns MP Koech’s shoot-to-kill remarks
By Mabonga Makhanu, July 15, 2025Githunguri Member of Parliament Gathoni Wamuchomba has strongly condemned Belgut MP Nelson Koech over his controversial shoot-to-kill remarks directed at protesters.
Speaking during a morning show on a local TV station on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, Wamuchomba expressed concern over the nature of Koech’s utterances, especially coming from a senior legislator who is serving his second term and sits in the National Assembly’s Defence Committee.
She criticised the remarks as reckless and a clear incitement to violence, stating that such statements should not be tolerated in a democratic society. According to Wamuchomba, it is alarming that leaders entrusted with oversight of security agencies are the ones making statements that could fuel brutality and abuse of power.
She further challenged President William Ruto to take a firm stand and address such dangerous rhetoric, warning that silence from the top leadership could be interpreted as approval.
“It’s very unfortunate that those kind of utterances came from a second-term member of parliament and one who sits in the defence committee… He must be called out because his remarks were incitement to violence and should not be allowed… The president should not be quiet when this is happening.” Wamuchomba stated.
Remarks by Koech
This comes after Koech called for a tougher police response as national leaders grapple with mounting unrest and calls for economic and political reforms
Speaking at an event on Thursday, July 10, 2025, amid rising tensions and continued anti-government demonstrations in various parts of the country, Koech defended the use of lethal force against what he described as criminal elements hiding behind the guise of protest.
“You cannot have someone coming after your life, and you do not want to shoot and kill. You cannot have someone who is going to endanger you and your family. And you are telling me you cannot shoot and kill,” Koech said.
The Defence Committee chairperson maintained that the Constitution and the Police Act already empower law enforcement to use firearms when their lives are threatened. He insisted that the current wave of violence demands a firmer response.
“The police have the power to use their arms when they have evaluated the risk of their lives being in danger,” he noted.
“These people cannot be terrorising others. Anyone who has to go to a protected area like the State House is not an ordinary person. That is a criminal; that is an armed person that must be dealt with using equal force, and the only force that applies to such people is to shoot and kill.”