Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen’s remarks on the June 25 and July 7 protests reveal more about the government’s priorities than they do about justice for the victims.
Confirming that 42 people were killed and over 1,500 arrested, Murkomen chose to focus on defending state actions rather than confronting the disturbing reality that under his leadership, the Interior Ministry failed to protect lives.
Instead of showing leadership during a national crisis, Murkomen framed the protests as planned acts of criminality, dismissing the genuine public frustrations that pushed people to the streets.
His statement that 496 police officers were injured out of nearly 600 total injuries was presented as though the state bore the bigger burden.
But it ignores the far more serious issue the death of unarmed citizens, including women and a 12-year-old girl who was shot inside her own home.
These deaths happened on his watch, and no amount of tough talk or legal jargon can cover up that failure. Murkomen claims to mourn every life lost, but his focus on blaming “politically motivated mobilisation” rings hollow when it is his own ministry that deployed the force accused of killing and injuring innocent people.
Murkomen also said that police stations were burnt, weapons stolen, and suspects killed in custody, pointing to these as justification for mass arrests and heavy charges like terrorism and murder.
But nowhere in his lengthy speech did he explain how a peaceful protest ended up with bodies piling in morgues and families mourning children.
He talked about law and order but said little about the excessive use of force by police, apart from mentioning one officer who has been charged.
That’s one case out of 42 deaths. It raises serious doubts about whether Murkomen is genuinely interested in accountability or simply trying to protect the system.
His mention of disrupted surgeries, looted businesses, and burnt vehicles is meant to draw attention away from the state’s own violence.
The fact that his ministry allowed this level of chaos while turning their weapons on citizens is alarming. Blaming protestors while failing to accept any responsibility is a poor excuse for leadership.
What’s worse is that investigations into the political sponsors of the protests are being pursued more aggressively than those into police who used lethal force on citizens.
That tells Kenyans everything they need to know about where Murkomen’s interests lie.
Instead of calming the country, Murkomen has chosen to speak like a prosecutor, not a leader. He has used fear and accusations to explain away what was clearly a national tragedy.
His role in overseeing security forces means he cannot escape blame. Under his leadership, the Interior Ministry has not only failed to maintain order but has contributed to a deadly response that left citizens exposed and grieving.
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