Petition Filed to Remove CS Kipchumba Murkomen Over ‘Shoot-to-Kill’ Remarks
A petition has been submitted to the High Court, aiming to oust Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen from his position.
This petition, brought forth by the Katiba Institute, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), and several other civil society organizations on July 2, contends that Murkomen is unfit for public office due to his controversial ‘shoot-to-kill orders.’
“The petition alleges that these comments constitute incitement to violence and unlawful acts and amount to unacceptable ethical conduct required of a public officer. The petition asks the court to find that the CS, as a public officer, is not fit to hold public office,” the organisations said in a joint statement.
The petition points to a 2022 High Court decision that dismissed the idea that using firearms is a suitable way to protect property when there are less extreme options available, especially in the context of peaceful protests.
Another point raised is that Murkomen’s comments could be seen as incitement under Article 33 of the Constitution and as unethical behavior according to Article 10 and Chapter VI of the Constitution.
The petition argues that this is because the CS promoted the illegal use of force in his initial statements and should have recognized that he was referencing outdated and unconstitutional legal provisions to back up his comments.
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Finally, the lobby group is calling for the CS to be held accountable for any individuals who may lose their lives or suffer injuries from June 26, 2025, due to actions taken by police officers following his directives.
On June 26, the Chief Secretary (CS) was caught on tape instructing police officers to shoot anyone who approached a police station or posed a threat to an officer’s life, assuring them that the government would have their backs.
His comments sparked outrage from across the political spectrum, with lawyers and activists labeling his statements as reckless, especially given the rising number of arbitrary shootings of civilians by police.
In defense of his remarks, Murkomen argued that his words were misinterpreted, insisting that he was only advocating for police officers to protect themselves from serious threats to their safety or the safety of others.
This incident is just the latest in a series of legal challenges the CS has faced since making those comments. On June 30, a Kenyan citizen submitted a petition to the Law Society of Kenya, calling for both him and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki to be removed from the advocates’ roll.
The petitioner contended that the two had breached the Constitution of Kenya and the oaths they took to uphold and protect human rights and constitutional values.
Petition Filed to Remove CS Kipchumba Murkomen Over ‘Shoot-to-Kill’ Remarks
