Police Constable Hiram Kimathi has found himself in trouble after boldly refusing to obey a transfer order that he believes was meant to punish him.
His trouble began when he stood against what he described as unlawful instructions from his seniors to use deadly force on protesters.
According to Kimathi, this defiance is what led to his sudden transfer from Kyumbi Police Station, near Machakos Junction, to Todonyang Police Station near the Kenya-Ethiopia border a location known for insecurity, poor infrastructure, and isolation.
In his own words, Kimathi wrote on social media that this was not a normal transfer, but a warning shot meant to silence any police officer brave enough to speak out.
He claimed the transfer was a message from the state: keep quiet or be buried in silence.
Kimathi posted the transfer letter online, which ordered him to report to the Officer Commanding Station in Todonyang for further instructions.
But instead of leaving, Kimathi made it clear that he would not comply. His refusal is directly tied to a video he posted on TikTok, where he strongly criticized Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen’s order to shoot violent demonstrators.
Murkomen had made the remarks on June 27, 2025, during rising unrest across the country, saying that anyone approaching police stations with criminal intent should be shot.
Kimathi, however, warned that such a statement could easily lead to unlawful killings. He reminded fellow officers that they swore to protect the Constitution and should not obey illegal orders.
Kimathi’s criticism did not end there. He also took issue with President William Ruto, who on July 9 backed Murkomen’s stance during the launch of a housing project for police officers at Kilimani Police Station.
The president had said that anyone who stormed businesses or police stations should be shot in the leg, and then face the consequences in court.
To Kimathi, this was yet another reckless endorsement of violence against citizens. He stated openly that he would not follow such commands and had no intention of going to Todonyang.
Todonyang is one of the most remote and dangerous stations in Kenya, located in the north-eastern part of Lodwar.
The area suffers from frequent cross-border attacks, poor infrastructure, and almost no proper transport links. Kimathi believes the state chose this station intentionally to silence him by sending him into isolation.
His act of resistance has sparked discussion about how officers who speak out are treated, and whether the police force is truly serving the people or just being used to enforce brutal state decisions.
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