Mulembe Times | June 30, 2025
Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen faces possible impeachment after DCP MPs accuse him of issuing a shoot-to-kill order. The motion, led by MP Gitonga Mukunji, cites constitutional violations and extrajudicial threats.
A political storm is brewing in Parliament as legislators allied to the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) launch a daring campaign to impeach Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, accusing him of issuing unconstitutional shoot-to-kill orders during last week’s nationwide protests.
Leading the charge is Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji, who made the bombshell announcement on Saturday during a prayer and fundraising event for Akurino faithful at Embu University Grounds. Mukunji condemned Murkomen’s recent remarks as not only reckless but as a signal of state-sanctioned violence against unarmed citizens.
“This Parliament must stand firm. The Interior Cabinet Secretary has overstepped his mandate by issuing unconstitutional directives that endanger lives. We cannot sit back and watch,” said Mukunji to a cheering crowd.
The impeachment plan comes in the wake of controversial comments made by CS Murkomen during a press address in Nairobi, following the June 25 protests which turned violent in several parts of the country. The demonstrations marked the anniversary of the 2024 anti-finance bill protests, during which more than 60 people lost their lives.
In the heat of the moment, Murkomen told officers:
“Mtu yeyote atakaribia police station piga yeye risasi… Mtu mwenye anaenda kuiba bunduki, abembelezwe? Bunduki sio mandazi!”
(Translation: Anyone approaching a police station—shoot them. Someone trying to steal a gun—should they be pampered? A gun is not a bun!)
MPs Accuse Murkomen of Abusing Office
Mukunji, flanked by other DCP lawmakers, said such remarks amounted to a blanket order for extrajudicial executions, and were in clear breach of the Constitution and police conduct regulations.
“This is how dictatorships begin — when leaders use security forces to silence dissent,” the MP warned.
Mukurweini MP John Kaguchia also backed the impeachment threat, noting that the Constitution is clear on the limited use of force by police.
“The CS has no authority to order police to shoot and kill. That mandate lies with the law, not individuals. Such orders violate the Constitution and must be condemned.”
State Accused of Orchestrating Violence
Several MPs also alleged that the chaos during last Wednesday’s protests was a state-orchestrated plot aimed at painting the youth as violent in order to justify a brutal crackdown.
“It’s not lost on us that just as the youth gather to mark a tragic day in our history, infiltrators emerge to cause mayhem, and suddenly the Interior Ministry issues extreme orders. We believe it is by design,” said one MP.
Murkomen Pushes Back
Amid mounting public criticism and political backlash, CS Kipchumba Murkomen issued a clarification on Saturday evening. He claimed his remarks were taken out of context and were grounded in legal provisions under the National Police Service Act, Section B(1), which allows police officers to use firearms only in self-defence or in defence of others facing imminent threats of death or serious harm.
Murkomen said his call was aimed specifically at armed criminals who attempt to raid police stations, not peaceful demonstrators.
“Let me be clear: I did not, and would never, authorize police to open fire on innocent Kenyans. My message was aimed at protecting officers and ensuring law and order prevail in high-risk situations,” he said.
DCP Leader Gachagua Joins the Fray
Former Deputy President and DCP party leader Rigathi Gachagua did not mince his words when addressing Murkomen’s conduct.
“He is a young, excited CS full of himself because of money and power. His reckless comments could lead to unnecessary bloodshed and legal consequences for officers acting under his misguidance.”
Gachagua further cautioned the government against pushing security forces into unlawful actions, warning that the burden of accountability will not lie solely with individual officers, but with the Cabinet Secretary himself
Despite the bold move, Gitonga Mukunji admitted that the impeachment motion may not gain the numbers required in the National Assembly due to what he described as “executive capture of Parliament.”
“Let’s be honest—Parliament has largely been captured. But we must try. We owe it to Kenyans to defend their rights, even when the odds are against us,” he said.
If the impeachment motion is formally filed, it will require at least one-third support of MPs to be tabled and a two-thirds majority to pass. Analysts say the motion is likely to face fierce opposition from pro-government legislators but could spark a national debate on policing, civil liberties, and the role of Cabinet Secretaries in directing law enforcement.
