Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has come under serious criticism after defending police actions during the nationwide protests on June 25, 2025. Instead of acknowledging the pain and suffering Kenyans endured, Murkomen chose to praise the same police officers accused of excessive force and brutality.
His remarks have angered many Kenyans who are still grieving, still searching for abducted relatives, and still nursing wounds both physical and emotional inflicted during the demonstrations. For a leader meant to safeguard the rights of all citizens, Murkomen’s choice to defend the system instead of the victims is deeply disturbing.
In his speech, Murkomen boldly stated that no officer committed excess and went as far as calling the protest a failed coup. This kind of language not only dismisses the genuine cries of citizens but also paints unarmed youths, most of them peacefully protesting, as enemies of the state.
By labelling them “terrorists,” Murkomen removed their humanity, making it easier for security forces to act without restraint. Such words are not just careless they are dangerous. They open the door for more violence under the cover of national security.
What’s worse is that his statements come against a backdrop of serious reports: over 300 protesters and officers injured, 65 deaths in police custody last year, and dozens of abductions. Among them is the case of Albert Ojwang, a blogger whose suspicious death in custody continues to raise questions.
Instead of addressing these concerns, Murkomen shifted blame to foreign powers, the church, and alleged protest financiers, refusing to take any responsibility for the blood spilled on Kenyan streets.
Even small traders, whose businesses were looted, have been turned into pawns in his narrative. Murkomen claimed the protests were hijacked by goons and used this to justify the government’s hardline approach.
But many of those on the ground say the violence began when the police used force on peaceful demonstrators. Footage and testimonies show officers firing tear gas, beating unarmed citizens, and using live bullets. Still, Murkomen stood firm, offering full support to the police and even promising legal protection.
Human rights groups have strongly condemned his remarks. Amnesty International Kenya and others have called his words dehumanizing and a threat to constitutional freedoms.
They argue that instead of de-escalating tensions, Murkomen’s approach has inflamed them. And despite his efforts to appear in control, the truth is clear people are scared, families are mourning, and the government is doing nothing to ease the pain.
Murkomen’s job is to protect both order and rights, but he has failed to strike that balance.
By taking sides, he has shown that this administration sees protests not as democratic expressions but as threats.
The right to protest is not a gift from the state it is a constitutional guarantee. When a Cabinet Secretary praises brutality and mocks those demanding justice, it’s a sign that leadership has lost touch with the people.
