Raila Slams CS Murkomen Over 'Shoot To Kill' Order

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has sharply criticised Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen over comments widely seen as a shoot-to-kill order directed at police officers during the recent protests.

Addressing a congregation at a church service in his hometown of Bondo, Siaya County, on Sunday, June 29, 2025, Raila denounced the remarks, cautioning that such statements pose a serious threat to constitutional rights and could potentially amount to criminal conduct by government officials.

"We have witnessed a lot of bloodshed in this country. People who had the right to demonstrate–some of them died," Raila addressed.

"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."

On Thursday, following a press briefing on the country’s situation after the Gen Z protests, Murkomen seemed to imply that police officers could use their firearms if they felt endangered within a police station.

In response to growing public backlash, Murkomen later clarified that his remarks had been misinterpreted, stressing that his statements were made with full regard for the law.

"My statement was made contextually and consciously with clarity of mind based on the express provisions of the law. No leader, scholar, jurist, journalist, blogger, or opinion shaper has challenged me on the law," Murkomen noted.

The June 25 protests had dire consequences, resulting in the destruction of property valued at millions and the loss of several lives, including fatalities linked to police actions.

Human rights organisations have further reported that hundreds of civilians from various countries suffered serious injuries during Wednesday’s chaos.

Still, Raila stressed the need to hold public officials accountable for remarks that could put lives at risk. He further maintained that the Constitution should be respected at all times, particularly during periods of unrest, and demanded justice for victims of police brutality in the recent protests.

"But at the same time, we condemn the criminals who went to the streets to destroy property and burn a police station. That is not a solution," Raila declared.