Raila Odinga (l) and CS Kipchumba Murkomen (r). Odinga has rebuked Murkone for his shoot-to-kill directive as reckless. Photo: ODM/Kipchumba Murkomen X.
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party Raila Odinga has slammed Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen over his shoot to kill directive to police officers to anyone who approaches the police station.
Speaking on Sunday in Siaya County at ACK St. Peter’s Parish in Bondo, Odinga said that the remarks by Murkomen as a dangerous directive and unconstitutional, as it promotes extrajudicial killings.
“So, anybody giving directives to a police officer that if anybody comes close to a police station, shoot them, it-s a shame. Shame on you. e should not promote the taking of life in a way that is not constitutional,” he remarked.
Odinga further expressed his concerns over increased police brutality, killings and unnecessary bloodshed in the country witnessed in the past few weeks during the Gen Z protests.
According to him, the police should have refrained in using excessive force, as they are not licensed to kill but arrest anyone who is breach of the law, and taken to court to stand trial if fund guilty.
“We have seen a lot of bloodshed recently, children who went out to demonstrate lost their lives by police bullets. Police should never, under any circumstances, shoot to kill. They have no license to take human life. If someone has committed a crime, arrest them and present them before a court of law,” Odinga affirmed.
However, after too much criticism over his controversial remarks, Murkomen said that he was misinterpreted by the public, as he had quoted by the National Service Police service Act, that allows police to use firearms when their lives are in danger.
“I say this all humility, I have no authority to order the Inspector General of police, as the Constitution does not permit it. All I did was explain the law. As a lawyer, I have read, studied and understood these laws. You will not find any instance where I said someone should be shot and killed,” Murkomen clarified.
Odinga reproach comes as MPs Gitonga Mukunji and John Kaguchia have plotted to table a motion of impeachment at the National Assembly for the impeachment of the CS, stating that his statement perpetuates extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances and are enough grounds for his removal from office.
