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Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen is facing fresh legal trouble after a coalition of civil society organisations filed a petition at the High Court seeking his removal from office.
The petition, submitted by the Katiba Institute, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), and others, accuses Murkomen of violating constitutional principles through what they term “incendiary” remarks made on June 26.
The CS was recorded instructing police officers to shoot anyone who approaches a police station or threatens an officer’s life, promising full government protection for those who comply.
According to the petitioners, these statements amount to incitement to violence and encourage unlawful use of force.
They argue that Murkomen’s comments contravene Article 33 of the Constitution, which regulates freedom of expression, and breach Article 10 and Chapter VI, which outline the ethical responsibilities of public officers.
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| Kipchumba Murkomen addressing the press |
The petition references a 2022 High Court ruling which held that the use of firearms to protect property must only be a last resort.
The ruling further clarified that peaceful protests do not justify the use of excessive force, a point the petitioners believe Murkomen ignored or misrepresented in his remarks.
Civil society groups are asking the court to declare Murkomen unfit to hold public office and to hold him accountable for any injuries or deaths resulting from police actions after June 26, 2025.
The petition also argues that the CS relied on outdated and unconstitutional laws when defending his position.
The backlash to Murkomen’s remarks has been swift and wide-ranging.
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| Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen |
Politicians from across the spectrum, legal experts, and human rights advocates have condemned the statement as reckless, particularly in light of a recent rise in police-related civilian shootings.
Murkomen has since attempted to clarify his stance, stating that his comments were misinterpreted. He insists that he only meant for officers to act in self-defence or to protect others from imminent danger.
In a related move, a separate petition was filed on June 30 by a private citizen with the Law Society of Kenya, seeking to have Murkomen and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki struck off the roll of advocates.
The petitioner claims both officials breached their oaths of office by promoting unconstitutional conduct and violating human rights protections.
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