Murkomen Dismisses Claims of ‘Hit Squad’, Vows Police Use of Force Policy to Be Issued
Addressing journalists at Harambee House on Tuesday, Murkomen firmly stated that there is no known police squad sanctioned to kill or target demonstrators.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen. Photo/The Star Kenya.
By Gidion Ngeno
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has refuted allegations that a secret police unit is targeting protesters, calling such claims false, unconstitutional, and illegal.
Addressing journalists at Harambee House on Tuesday, Murkomen firmly stated that there is no known police squad sanctioned to kill or target demonstrators.
“There is no known police squad involved in killing people. It would be unconstitutional and illegal,” he said.
Murkomen added that a formal policy directive on the use of force and firearms by law enforcement officers will be issued this Friday, in accordance with Article 245(4) of the Constitution.
“Cognisant of the raging debate and national concerns on the use of force by security personnel, I will this Friday be issuing a policy directive to the Inspector General of Police on the use of force and firearms,” he stated.
His remarks follow a recent controversial directive from President William Ruto, who ordered police to take decisive action against violent protesters — including the use of firearms.
“Anyone who vandalises any property and attacks a police officer should be shot in the leg, taken to the hospital and to court. He should not be killed — break his leg and take him to court,” President Ruto said during a recent address.
However, Murkomen sought to draw a legal boundary, saying all police officers — whether in uniform or plain clothes — are required to act within the confines of the law.
“A police officer, whether wearing uniform or not, is still an officer. There are no laws that excuse officers in plain clothes from committing crimes. The same legal standards apply,” he said.
He emphasized that any officer found using excessive force or operating outside the law would be held accountable.
Rising Public Outcry and Fatalities
Murkomen’s clarification comes as public outrage mounts over recent police actions during anti-government protests that have rocked the country. According to official figures, at least 42 Kenyans have died, and nearly 600 have been injured, including 496 law enforcement officers.
The protests, which took place on June 25 and July 7, have led to mass arrests and a surge in criminal investigations.
1,500 people have been arrested nationwide.
Charges range from terrorism, murder, robbery with violence, to arson, sexual assault, and malicious damage to property.
50 suspects are currently under investigation by the Serious Crimes Investigations Unit.
71 cases have been taken up by the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) for suspected terrorism links.
The government maintains that while protest is a constitutional right, violence and destruction of property will not be tolerated.
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