Worst Mistake: Murkomen's reckless remarks expose his aloofness

Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen

For a leader who has a history of making unfiltered public statements since he took over the Interior security docket, Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen’s recent remarks have yet again portrayed him as CS fond of talking tough and acting blind. 

Murkomen is under intense public scrutiny following remarks dismissing public alarm over the rising political violence, by claiming that a goon crisis was non-existent in the country. Contradicting the President who went public on the goon’s menace promising to clamp down the practice but is yet to act, Murkomen's latest utterances point to government leaders speaking at cross-purpose.

Despite months of condemnation from opposition leaders, rebuke by the clergy and cries for help from families of victims who have lost their loved ones at the hands of the surging goonism culture, the CS during an engagement in Naiberi, Uasin Gishu County on Friday claimed that there was no national crisis orchestrated by goons, further accusing the political class of exaggerating the issue.

“Those who are trying to say that this country is in a crisis because of goons are liars. The crisis in this country is the bankruptcy of ideas by politicians who are unable to campaign, and they go and send goons to fight themselves and then want to make it a national crisis. There is no national crisis. Kenya is safe,” Murkomen stated.

During the same function, the CS hit out at the Linda Mwananchi brigade, questioning why the Linda Mwananchi team would knowingly proceed with its plans if it had information that goons were waiting to attack them. Instead of questioning the police as to why they were not able to ensure peace prevailed, he went bare-knuckle on the Edwin Sifuna-led faction.

“If you already know that someone has organized goons to attack you in Homa Bay, and the police have told you that goons have been mobilized, why would you still go there? Why not go home and organise another rally without the goons? Why are you forcing yourself?” Murkomen asked.

A peel back of the layers of recent history now reveal that the utterances by the Cabinet Secretary were not an isolated incident but the latest in a series of controversial statements that have raised questions over Murkomen’s suitability for the office he holds.

From countless verbal gaffes, merciless directives to the police and making statements shifting accountability from the state, the Interior CS has eroded public trust drawing fierce accusations of state complacency.

Shortly after the one-year anniversary of the Gen Z protests last year, CS Murkomen was in the throes of public fury after he gave a shoot-on- site order.

"Na tumeambia polisi mtu yeyote atakaribia police station piga yeye risasi...mwenye anatupia polisi mawe ati atakuja kubembelezwa, mnafikiria bunduki ni mandazi? Usikubali upigwe marungu na wewe ninaskari na uko na bunduki..fanya kabisa kile utaweza. We will support you we will defend you. Tutafanya hio kesi ingine baadaye,” said the CS in June 2025.

Although Murkomen later moved to clarify that his remarks were taken out of context, that did not victim him from the court of public opinion. In a subsequent statement, the CS stated that he doesn't have the authority to instruct the Police Inspector General or the National Police Service to carry out any actions outside the boundaries of the law.

"I ask all those who are spreading misinformation, disinformation, and fake news to challenge me on the law. Those who are saying I issued an order to the police should show where the order is. A mere restatement of the law as it exists cannot amount to giving an order to the police," the CS remarked.

But later in the same month, the Interior CS was yet on the defensive after claiming that the government would not cooperate with investigations into police officers who used firearms to defend government facilities, even if their actions lead to civilian deaths.

In a video, Murkomen defended lethal police action and warning that officers taken to court for using guns in such situations would be protected by the State.

“If a police officer is taken to court for using their gun to protect themselves, a police station, Parliament or any other government office, we will not cooperate. We will not cooperate with anybody who is trying to punish police officers who have done their job or protected their lives. It won’t be possible,” Murkomen said.

“Even if 10 people are injured, what else would you expect when a police station is under attack? Like that gun which has been stolen, how many robberies do you think it will be used in, and where? Citizens are now in danger because of that gun which has been stolen,” he added.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) quickly condemned his statements, calling them reckless and warning they could trigger more extrajudicial killings.Murkomen was later forced to clarify his remarks while speaking at a graduation ceremony at the Border Police Training Centre in Kanyonyo, Kitui County.

“We have not said that the guns should be used recklessly. We are just trying to defend the police officers whose lives could be at risk. Some officers currently fear using guns because they do not want to go to jail, but what if they lose their lives to criminals?” he said.

Critics have also accused CS Murkomen of using his interior office- which is a very sensitive docket- to play politics contrary to the actions of his predecessors.

In a move aimed at achieving political expediency rather than address the issue of police working in cahoots with goons, Murkomen would on July 3, 2026 claim that the Democracy for Citizens party leader Rigathi Gachagua posed the biggest threat to national security and public order, saying security agencies would closely track his movements and activities.

"Rigathi Gachagua, my business now until Kenya crosses 2027 safely is to monitor your activities in the Republic of Kenya. Hiyo kazi nitafanya usiku na mchana, you're my single most point of focus because of the threat you're posing as the father of violence," Murkomen stated.

The Interior CS further alleged that Gachagua had been soliciting money from political aspirants, intimidating some of them and using the funds to organise criminal gangs, claims for which he did not provide evidence.

"I know that you have been collecting money from potential aspirants, intimidating some of them, promising them certificates. We know the money you're collecting; you're using it to prepare goons, we will deal with you," he claimed.

His sentiments came hot on the heels of accusations by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that he (CS Murkomen) was deploying security officers and state-sponsored goons to disrupt a DCP political campaign in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County.

In a statement released on his X handle on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, Gachagua had said that a special police unit had been dispatched to the area, alleging that its members had begun abducting and assaulting DCP supporters.

 

The former deputy president further noted that DCP campaigners had been subjected to indiscriminate beatings and forced abductions, accusing the government of using security agencies to intimidate members of the opposition.

Notably, CS Murkomen’s gaffes extend beyond his current Interior Security office. During his tenure as the Transport Cabinet Secretary, he stoked the ire of Kenyans after claiming that

Rwanda is governed under autocracy.

Appearing before on Citizen TV's Monday night show in December 2023, Murkomen stated that Kenya's transport system cannot be compared with Rwanda's which has been streamlined to operate fully under the guidelines of their laws.

Murkomen argued that Rwanda adopts whatever their president, Paul Kagame, says as compared to Kenya where policies go through a few scrutiny stages before approval.

"Rwanda is not like Kenya. We must live with certain expectations as a country that comes with democracy. Rwanda is an autocracy and there whatever the president says is the law," said Murkomen.

"Here every decision you make in this country you must go through a proposal then Parliament then public participation.”

His utterances drew condemnation from the late ODM Leader Raila Odinga who condemned the controversial remarks.

In a statement, Raila termed the remarks by Murkomen as unfortunate, further accusing the CS of using “intemperate and undiplomatic language” against Rwanda.

“Yesterday, we opened another war with Rwanda through a cabinet secretary using intemperate and undiplomatic language against this friendly neighbouring member of the East African Community. Statecraft and diplomacy require a different and more sophisticated etiquette beyond expensive watches, suits and walking sticks,” said Odinga.

He also took issue with Murkomen's assertion that Rwanda is a small country that only compares to Kajiado County in Kenya hence the high infrastructural development in Kigali.

 “The coarse language used against the great country and friendly people of Rwanda is most unfortunate. Rwanda is the size of Switzerland and is actually bigger than Singapore. It is not the size that makes nations but the vision and leadership. To our Rwandese brothers and sisters, we apologize on the sins of a regime intoxicated by power and corruption,”added Odinga.

Critics now aver that the continued use of inflammatory language by CS Murkomen is used deflect from systemic law enforcement failures.

“Murkomen cannot lecture Kenyans about goonism while serving as the Cabinet Secretary responsible for the security docket. He represents a President who has the power and responsibility to stop political goons, yet has done nothing as they attack and intimidate Kenyans,” said People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua yesterday.

She also called out President William Ruto for not decisively dealing with the issue of goons.

“When the President remains silent in the face of such conduct, that silence becomes an endorsement of goonism and impunity.” 

Jubilee party has now called for the immediate resignation of Murkomen

Jubilee Party Deputy Party Leader (Operations) Jeremiah Kioni has called for the resignation of Murkomen, accusing the government of failing to contain political violence and protect Kenyans ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Kioni said security agencies must remain professional and protect all Kenyans regardless of their political affiliation, warning that the use of goons and verbal violence could threaten the country’s democratic space.

“We are not getting the protection that we as the opposition leaders deserve. It has now come a time when you should resign if at all you have been unable to deal with the issue of goons,” he said.

He spoke during the Jubilee Party Mount Kenya Consultative Forum in Limuru on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, where the party criticized the government over what it described as a failure to guarantee peace and security as political parties begin preparing for the 2027 elections.

The demand comes amidst growing concern over increased political violence, hate speech and accusations of police protecting goons as they disrupt political gatherings.