Raila Odinga says CS Murkomen apologized over ‘shoot-to-kill’ remarks. He now calls for urgent police reforms and greater accountability in leadership.
Raila Odinga has said that the Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen apologized both to him and to Kenyans over controversial remarks suggesting police had the right to use lethal force during protests.
Speaking on Monday during Saba Saba commemorations in Nairobi, the former Prime Minister said the apology followed public outrage over Murkomen’s comments in the aftermath of the 25 June Gen Z demonstrations.
“I said it was totally out of order, and he apologized to me and to the people,” Raila told reporters. “Police should handle people with care.”
Murkomen Under Fire
Murkomen faced sharp criticism last month after appearing to defend the right of police officers to shoot individuals threatening public infrastructure. His remarks were widely interpreted as backing a “shoot-to-kill” stance against protesters.
He later denied issuing any directive to that effect, insisting that his comments were a legal interpretation rather than an order. “You will not find me anywhere saying somebody should be shot to be killed,” Murkomen said. “What I did was to state the law.”
He also clarified that his position as a Cabinet Secretary does not grant him authority to instruct police operations, saying, “I cannot order an Inspector General of Police… the Constitution does not allow me to.
Raila: No Room for Extra-Judicial Force
Odinga acknowledged that parts of the protests turned violent and led to property damage, but insisted that no amount of disruption justifies unlawful killings.
“The police should never ever shoot to kill,” he said. “Police have no licence to kill human beings. If somebody has committed a crime, arrest that person and take them before a court of law.”
The June 25 protests saw thousands of young Kenyans, many organised under the banner of Gen Z, take to the streets to oppose the now withdrawn Finance Bill. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has since reported at least 19 deaths and over 500 injuries, with dozens still unaccounted for.
Call for Police Reforms and Accountability
Odinga used the Saba Saba platform to renew calls for sweeping police reforms. He urged the creation of a national forum to propose more effective ways of ensuring law enforcement is accountable to the public.
“The police service must be reformed to become a people’s defender, a servant,” he said.
He also called for broader reforms to address corruption and impunity in government. “We must come up with sustainable ways to ensure transparency, accountability, and that our leaders are held responsible for their actions,” he added.
A Country at a Crossroads
Murkomen’s apology, though seen by some as a necessary step toward de-escalation, has not quelled the demand for justice from victims’ families and civil society.
Pressure is mounting on the government to not only investigate police actions during the protests, but also to ensure that future demonstrations are handled with restraint, transparency and full respect for human rights.
As Kenya reflects on its democratic gains since the original Saba Saba protests in 1990, this year’s commemorations have taken on renewed urgency driven not by political elites, but by the country’s youth.
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