MPs Plot Murkomen’s Impeachment Over Shoot-to-Kill Directive
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen is facing growing pressure from a section of lawmakers seeking his impeachment over a controversial shoot-to-kill order issued during recent nationwide protests.
The impeachment initiative is being spearheaded by Members of Parliament affiliated with the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), led by Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji. Speaking at Embu University during a prayer and fundraising event for the Akurino community, Mukunji accused Murkomen of fueling extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances, terming his actions a threat to democracy and civil liberties.
“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,” Mukunji stated.
He warned that the Kenya Kwanza administration is normalizing state-sanctioned violence, urging legislators to uphold their constitutional duty of oversight. However, Mukunji admitted that the motion may struggle to gain traction in Parliament, citing the executive’s grip on many lawmakers.
“Let’s be honest, Parliament has largely been captured. But we must try,” he said.
Mukurweini MP John Kaguchia also backed the impeachment push, saying Murkomen’s directives violated both legal and ethical boundaries. “The CS has no authority to order police to shoot and kill. Such orders violate the Constitution and must be condemned,” Kaguchia remarked.
The shoot-to-kill remarks came in the wake of the June 25 protests, where widespread destruction was reported across major towns. In a viral video, Murkomen was heard telling police: “Mtu yeyote atakaribia police station piga yeye risasi… Mtu mwenye anaenda kuiba bunduki, abembelezwe? Bunduki sio mandazi!”
The MPs now allege the chaos witnessed during the demonstrations was state-sponsored to justify a brutal crackdown on protesting youth.
Former Deputy President and DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua joined the chorus of criticism, calling Murkomen “a young, excited CS full of himself because of money and power.” He accused the Interior boss of issuing reckless and illegal orders that expose police officers to legal risks and jeopardize public safety.
In a damage control statement issued Saturday, Murkomen defended his remarks, saying they were taken out of context. He maintained that his comments were consistent with Section B(1) of the National Police Service Act, which permits police to use firearms in self-defense or in defense of others under imminent threat.
Despite the CS’s clarification, calls for his resignation or removal continue to mount, setting the stage for a political showdown in Parliament.
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MPs Plot Murkomen’s Impeachment Over Shoot-to-Kill Directive