Kenya’s Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen, has sparked controversy by praising the National Police Service (NPS) for its “ruthless and merciless” response to Gen Z-led protests on June 25, 2025, while criticising international media for their coverage of the unrest.
The protests, marking the first anniversary of the 2024 anti-government demonstrations, resulted in at least 16 deaths and over 400 injuries, with Amnesty International and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) attributing most fatalities to police action involving tear gas and alleged live ammunition.
Murkomen’s remarks, made during a Nairobi press briefing, have intensified debates over police brutality and media freedom in Kenya.
Murkomen commended the NPS, stating, “Job well done to the police,” for their handling of the protests, which he described as “terrorism disguised as dissent” and an “attempted coup.” He claimed that officers showed “remarkable restraint” despite extreme provocation, including attacks on nine police stations, five of which were torched, and the theft of five firearms.
However, rights groups and eyewitnesses reported excessive force, with fatalities in Nairobi, Molo, Matuu, and Ol Kalou, including a Form Three student shot dead in Molo.
Murkomen’s defence of the police, including promises of legal backing for officers, has drawn sharp criticism from activists who accuse the government of endorsing state-sanctioned violence.
Addressing international media, Murkomen expressed frustration, stating, “When the international media report from other countries, they are very careful, but from Kenya, they report as it is. Some of the reporters are so happy that they think they have achieved because they are being cheered.”
He specifically targeted CNN correspondent Larry Madowo, accusing him of negative coverage that amplifies Kenya’s challenges while ignoring progress.
Madowo, praised by protesters for his reporting on the June 25 demonstrations, faced no harm during the unrest, tweeting, “Thanks for the love. I didn’t lose my phone or anything in this crowd.”
Murkomen’s remarks followed a government directive, later overturned, ordering media to halt live protest coverage, which he justified as necessary to prevent a repeat of the 2007/08 post-election violence.
The protests, driven by Gen Z’s demands for an end to corruption, police brutality, and poor governance, saw thousands march across 27 counties. Demonstrators, chanting “Ruto must go,” attempted to reach the State House and parliament but were repelled by police using tear gas and razor wire barricades.
The unrest was fueled by the recent death of blogger Albert Ojwang in custody, confirmed as assault, and ongoing abductions of over 80 government critics since 2024.
Murkomen alleged the protests were “funded and politically instigated,” claiming organized gangs hijacked peaceful demonstrations, targeting infrastructure and politicians’ homes.
International media, including Reuters, BBC, and Al Jazeera, reported extensively on the protests, highlighting police shootings and a media blackout attempt.
Amnesty International noted 16 deaths, all by gunshots, while Murkomen reported 10 fatalities and 400 injuries, including 300 police officers.
Netizens reflected public outrage, with @InsecurityKE stating, “Murkomen’s press conference didn’t mention the murdered youth. He cried for walls, not lives.”
Murkomen’s comments have deepened distrust in President William Ruto’s administration, which has been accused of shielding police impunity.
The KNCHR and Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) are investigating allegations of live ammunition use, while calls for a public inquest into extra-judicial killings, including those of Chris Msando and Jacob Juma, grow louder.
As Kenya navigates this crisis, Murkomen’s praise for police ruthlessness and critique of international media portray the tensions between state authority and public demands for justice.
