Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has defended the National Police Service, saying that the majority of officers are committed to keeping the country safe.
Speaking during Mavoko Constituency Economic Empowerment Engagement, KMC Grounds, Athi River, on Saturday, June 28, 2025, Kindiki acknowledged public complaints but urged Kenyans to differentiate between rogue officers and those risking their lives daily.
“Najua ya kwamba kuna malalamiko ambayo wananchi wametoa njinsi wangependa polisi wetu wafanye kazi. Na tunashugulikia yakwamba huduma ya polisi inaeshimu wananchi na inaheshimu haki zao. Lakini vile vile lazima tukubali, ndio nchi yetu iwe na amani lazima polisi wetu kwa sababu asilimia tisaini na tisa hawana shinda wanajaribu kufukuzana na wezi, kufukuzana na majambazi, magaidi, kwa ajili yetu ili tuwe salama. Lakini tukianza kushambulia polisi kuchoma police station, kuiba bunduki, tunaatarisha usalama wa taifa. That’s how a country falls,” he said.
Translation: “I know there are complaints from the public on how they want our police to operate. We are addressing that to ensure the police service respects citizens and upholds their rights. But we must also agree — for our country to be peaceful, our police, of whom 99 per cent have no issues, are chasing after thieves, robbers, and terrorists for our safety. But if we start attacking police, burning stations, and stealing guns, we endanger national security. That’s how a country falls.”
Murkomen’s directive
Kindiki’s remarks come just days after Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen caused a stir with a public directive to the police.
“Anyone who dares approach a police station with criminal intent, shoot them.”
The Law Society of Kenya has since condemned the order, calling it illegal and unconstitutional. LSK President Faith Odhiambo said Murkomen had no authority to give such an order, and warned officers that they would be held personally responsible if they complied with illegal directives.
“Any officer found to be engaging in such criminal conduct will be prosecuted in their individual capacity,” she said.
Her comments follow a string of police killings during the Gen Z protests, including the death of teacher Albert Ojwang, and the shooting of Benson Kariuki, a Nairobi street vendor. The protests in June 25, 2025, turned violent in Kikuyu and Dagoretti, where demonstrators set fire to public buildings and reportedly stole five firearms.
Kenneth Mwenda
Kenneth Mwenda is a digital writer with over five years of experience. He graduated in February 2022 with a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from The Co-operative University of Kenya. He has written news and feature stories for platforms such as Construction Review Online, Sports Brief, Briefly News, and Criptonizando. In 2023, he completed a course in Digital Investigation Techniques with AFP. He joined K24 Digital in May 2025. For inquiries, he can be reached at [email protected].
