A coalition of civil society organisations, including the Katiba Institute, Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), and the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), has filed a petition seeking the impeachment of Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.
The petition, lodged on 2 July 2025, accuses Murkomen of making inflammatory remarks that allegedly encouraged excessive police force during recent protests, violating constitutional rights and undermining public safety.
Part of a press statement issued by the Katiba Institute reads: “Murkomen gave assurances that he would protect any police officer who executes his shoot-to-kill orders. The petition alleges that these comments constitute incitement to violence and unlawful acts and amount to unacceptable ethical conduct required of a public officer.”
The civil society organisations also say that the CS should be held unequivocally responsible for any individuals who lose their lives or are injured from 26 June 2025 at the hands of police officers following their unlawful orders.
The controversy stems from statements attributed to Murkomen, in which he reportedly urged police officers to shoot anyone approaching a police station or endangering an officer’s life.
These remarks, made in the wake of the 25 June 2025 Gen Z-led protests, have sparked widespread outrage among lawmakers, human rights groups, and the public. The protests, driven by youth discontent over governance and economic issues, saw significant unrest, prompting Murkomen’s comments.
The petition argues that Murkomen’s “shoot-to-kill” directive constitutes an abuse of power and contravenes Kenya’s Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and protection from arbitrary use of force. The civil society groups are calling for his immediate removal from office, citing a breach of public trust and failure to uphold the rule of law.
In a parallel move, a group of MPs led by Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji has announced plans to table an impeachment motion against Murkomen in Parliament.
The lawmakers argue that the CS’s remarks not only endanger lives but also undermine Kenya’s democratic principles. “Murkomen’s directive is a direct violation of the Constitution and cannot be tolerated,” Mukunji stated in a press briefing on 30 June 2025.
-By Jeremiah Richu
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