Raila rebukes Murkomen’s shoot-to-kill remarks

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has come out strongly against remarks made by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen that were widely interpreted as a shoot-to-kill directive to police officers during the recent protests.

Speaking during a church service in his hometown of Bondo, Siaya County, on Sunday, June 29, 2025, Raila condemned the statement, warning that such utterances threaten constitutional freedoms and could amount to criminal behaviour by state officials.

“Tumeona umwagikaji wa damu nyingi sana hapa nchini. Watu waliokuwa na haki ya kuandamana, wengine wao walikufa. Anybody giving instructions to a police officer that mtu akikaribia police station piga risasi…. we should not encourage, talking a way of life, in a way that is not constitutional. somebody is committing a crime, that person should be subjected to..that person should be talken to court of law and charge him… and then sentence him,” Raila said.

Translation: “We have witnessed a lot of bloodshed in this country. People who had the right to demonstrate–some of them died. Anybody giving instructions to a police officer that ‘if someone comes near a police station, shoot them’ –we should not encourage that. It is taking a human life in a manner that is unconstitutional. If somebody is committing a crime, that person should be taken to a court of law, charged, and then sentenced.”

Murkomen’s statement

Raila’s remarks come days after CS Murkomen sparked national outrage with his comments in Kiambu County following deadly protests on June 25, where several people were reportedly shot dead by police.

“When someone comes to the police station and wants to take over the government’s office, the police gun and your life, shoot him,” Murkomen had said.

This statement drew condemnation from civil society, legal experts, and human rights groups, who accused the CS of inciting extrajudicial killings. Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo described the comments as “reckless” and warned they could encourage lawlessness within the security services.

Although Murkomen later denied issuing a shoot-to-kill order, claiming his remarks were misinterpreted and rooted in law, Raila emphasised that public officials must be held to account for statements that could endanger lives.

The ODM leader insisted that the Constitution must be upheld at all times, especially in moments of unrest, and called for justice for victims of police brutality during the recent demonstrations.