Africa-Press – Kenya. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has come out strongly in defence of police officers accused of using excessive force during recent nationwide protests.
Speaking on Thursday, Murkomen said allegations of police brutality must be proven in court and not judged in public.
“The issue of police brutality—I don’t know if you can say there is brutality until it is investigated and proven by a court of law,” he said.
Murkomen added that any deaths during the protests were regrettable, but many resulted from criminal activity and not peaceful demonstrations.
“These were man-to-man confrontations that turned criminal and unfortunately led to loss of life,” he said.
“Loss of life, no matter the circumstances, is regrettable.”
He noted that agencies like the Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (Ipoa) are investigating the incidents and will determine who is responsible.
The CS also criticised the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) for defending what he called “suspects of terror.”
“Some people want to normalise terror. Those who organised the violence—burning courts and police stations, stealing guns, and destroying supermarkets—will face charges. These are acts meant to instill fear and weaken state institutions,” Murkomen said.
He emphasized that the suspects must face the law, adding that it’s now up to the courts to determine guilt.
“They can intimidate others, but they cannot intimidate us. We know the law. We know what it takes to secure a country,” said Murkomen.
He rejected any political justifications for criminal acts, saying the government will act firmly and without bias.
“There’s no county we’ll allow to be destroyed. We won’t excuse criminals based on political support. We’ll go after them for what they’ve done,” he declared.
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