NAIROBI — The High Court has rejected a petition seeking to declare Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen unfit for office over controversial remarks made during the recent Gen Z protests.
The petition, filed by the Gema Watho Association, centered on Murkomen’s alleged “shoot-on-sight” directive made in Kikuyu Town on June 25, in the wake of nationwide anti-government demonstrations. The association argued that the remarks, interpreted by many as advocating extrajudicial violence, encouraged police impunity and posed a grave threat to civilian safety.
In court documents, the group stated that the statement—allegedly instructing police to “shoot anyone approaching a police station”—was unconstitutional, dangerous, and in violation of Article 26 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life. They contended that such a broad directive fails to meet legal standards for the use of force, especially against unarmed civilians.
“The utterance was made in a densely populated urban area and risked being interpreted by security personnel as a green light to use lethal force without cause,” read part of the association’s argument.
CS Murkomen, who has not yet issued a formal response to the petition, is being represented in court by lawyer Cecil Miller.
Justice Bahati Mwamuye, presiding over the matter, declined to issue an interim declaration against the CS but scheduled a mention of the case for October 27 to determine the next steps.
The Gema Watho Association is pushing for Murkomen to publicly retract the alleged remarks and to be held accountable for statements they believe could trigger further police abuses during public protests.
