CS Kipchumba Murkomen and DIG Administration Gilbert Masengeli during Jukwaa La Usalama in Samburu County. Photo: Kipchumba MurkomenX.
Following inhumane and callous use of firearms by police officers in the recent protests in the country, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Friday released a guideline on when police officers can use their firearms.
As he unveiled the new policy, Murkomen urged the officers to use firearms as the last option, and instead restrain themselves when they are managing members of public during protests.
Speaking in Maralal Samburu County during Jukwaa La Usalama Samburu Edition, Murkomen explained that use of lethal force against protesters should be enforced depending on the threat posed.
“We make it very clear on how police officers can make it dealing with goons …IG will now cascade the same to his officers. This matter has elicited public discourse and it’s now a policy on paper that the public can now hold me to account and it’s legally binding,” Murkomen explained.
The CS further emphasized that use of brutal force must not be used as a form extrajudicial punishment. The first directive policy by Murkomen was issued to the Inspector General of Police (IG), on use of firearms and force by law enforcement officers.
Murkomen further emphasized that the use of force an firearm shall only be used in self-defense or in the Defence of others facing an imminent threat of death or serious injury, and that no additional force is lawful once a suspect is safely and lawfully detained.
“The Inspector General is directed to ensure that all officers under the National Police Service are aware of relevant legislation and are informed about the extent of their legal powers and the context within which those powers can be properly exercised,” Murkomen further explained.
The new policy guidelines and directive come after number of Kenyans sustained life threatening injuries and recorded a significant number of death in the hands of the police, which resulted in number of protests in the country demanding an end to police brutality.
Ironically, more than 50 people died in the protests against police brutality, including the chilling public close range point blank shooting of 22-year-old mask vendor Boniface Kariuki in Nairobi CBD, as protests demanded justice for X blogger Albert Ojwang’.
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