Nairobi — Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has criticised what he calls the abuse of freedoms by some Kenyans, saying no other country would tolerate citizens openly threatening to storm key government institutions without facing legal consequences.
Speaking during a breakfast event at State House with the FKF Premier League champions on Tuesday, Murkomen painted a picture of a country where freedoms are taken for granted even by those making threats that would lead to swift arrests elsewhere.
“It’s only in Kenya where someone will say they are going to invade Parliament or State House and walk away freely,” he told attendees. “In the UK, if you tweet about going to Buckingham Palace with such intentions, you’re arrested at home. In the US, the Secret Service doesn’t wait for you to arrive at the White House they’ll come for you first.”
His remarks come days ahead of renewed anti-government protests, many led by young people demanding justice for victims of police brutality and greater accountability over the Finance Bill.
Murkomen insisted the police have shown professionalism by not cracking down on demonstrators as harshly as other countries might. “This police service is one of the most professional in Africa,” he said. “It’s not easy to operate in our political environment. The police are caught between strict legal limits and politicians who are often unsupportive.”
He added that cases involving police misconduct during the 2024 protests where at least 60 people were reportedly killed were already before the courts. “The matter is being addressed,” he said. “But some people are just looking for reasons to return to the streets and cause chaos.”
Protesters, however, say their marches are about more than court cases. Many plan to commemorate those who died during last year’s demonstrations, where abductions, violence, and disappearances made international headlines. Several victims are still missing.
Rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns about how police handled the unrest. They accuse the government of failing to deliver justice or accountability for the deaths. Human rights organisations put the death toll from the 2024 protests at 60, though the official figure remains disputed.
Despite his sharp words for protest organisers, Murkomen praised the police for their restraint. “They’ve done well under pressure,” he said. “I urge them to stick to the law and avoid provocation. We must remain a peaceful country.”
As the country braces for another round of demonstrations, the CS’s comments highlight a growing divide between those who believe Kenya is too soft on dissent, and those who feel the State is already failing to protect its citizens from police violence.
Whether more protests will bring justice or simply more tension remains to be seen. But for now, Kenya continues to walk the delicate line between freedom and order.
