Kenya’s Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has ignited a firestorm of controversy with allegations that he issued a shoot-to-kill order to police during the violent June 25, 2025, protests, reportedly stating, “Ukiua watu kumi, kumi na tano, watu ishirini sio wengi, mimi nitakutetea, hii ni amri kutoka juu” (If you kill 10, 15, or 25 people, it’s not many; I will defend you, this is an order from above).
The remarks, attributed to Murkomen in posts circulating on social media, have drawn widespread condemnation amid reports of 16 deaths and over 400 injuries during Gen Z-led protests against police brutality, corruption, and poor governance.
Critics, including rights groups and opposition leaders, accuse Murkomen and President William Ruto’s administration of endorsing state-sanctioned violence, escalating tensions in an already volatile political climate.
The June 25 protests, marking the anniversary of the 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations that killed over 60, saw thousands march in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu, chanting “Ruto must go.”
Police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and alleged live ammunition, with Amnesty International and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) reporting eight deaths in Nairobi alone, many from gunshot wounds. Murkomen’s alleged statement, loosely translated as downplaying the killing of 10 to 25 people as a “small number,” has been cited as evidence of a shoot-to-kill policy sanctioned by Ruto.
Posts on X, including one from @InsecurityKE
, claim Murkomen told police, “A civilian has just been shot in Ndunyu Njeru—hours after the Interior CS gave the orders to shoot,” linking the remarks to immediate violence.
Murkomen, speaking at a June 26 press conference, defended the police, praising their “remarkable restraint” despite attacks on nine police stations, five of which were torched, and the theft of five firearms.
He described the protests as a “coup attempt” and accused organizers of mobilizing “goons” from Nyeri and Thika to fuel unrest, a claim critics argue stokes ethnic tensions against the Kikuyu community.
Saboti MP Caleb Amisi condemned the alleged shoot-to-kill order, stating, “Nobody has the authority to order the killing of a countryman. Arrest and let us blame the judiciary.” Murkomen faced jeers from locals while touring damaged police stations, underscoring public outrage over his remarks.
The protests were sparked by ongoing grievances, including the death of blogger Albert Ojwang in custody, confirmed as assault, and over 80 abductions of government critics since 2024.
The KNCHR reported 61 arrests and 83 injuries requiring specialized treatment, while Amnesty International noted all 16 deaths were from gunshots.
Murkomen’s alleged directive, reportedly tied to Ruto, has drawn comparisons to the 2007/08 post-election violence, which killed over 1,200.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, now a vocal critic, condemned the use of live bullets, alleging targeted attacks on Mount Kenya businesses.
International media, including BBC and Reuters, faced Murkomen’s ire for “biased” reporting, with the CS claiming they are “careful” elsewhere but “report as it is” in Kenya.
A government ban on live protest coverage later overturned, further fueled accusations of suppressing press freedom. The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) refused to condemn the violence, with leader Francis Atwoli blaming protesters for economic losses.
Murkomen’s history of defending police actions, including during the 2024 protests, has drawn scrutiny. His launch of the National Government Administration Police Unit (NGAPU) in January 2025 aimed to bolster security, but critics argue it enables repression.
Calls for a public inquest into extra-judicial killings, including those of Chris Msando and Jacob Juma, have intensified, with former CS Fred Matiang’i also demanding accountability. As Kenya braces for more protests, Murkomen’s alleged shoot-to-kill order risks escalating the crisis, with Gen Z vowing to continue their fight for justice. WATCH FULL VIDEO Murkomen talking to Police commanders.
