A political firestorm has erupted in Kenya, placing Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen squarely in the crosshairs of a furious opposition. Following his controversial "shoot-to-kill" directive, opposition leaders are now asserting that Murkomen must either resign immediately or be forcibly removed from the Ministry, threatening an impeachment motion that is gaining significant traction.
The strong condemnation came from prominent figures including Kalonzo Musyoka and Eugene Wamalwa, who spoke passionately in Githurai after visiting the family of the slain hawker, Boniface Kariuki. Their message was unequivocal: Murkomen's recent statements are a grave affront to constitutionalism and a direct threat to the lives of Kenyan citizens.
"Mr Murkomen, the least you can do as the Cabinet Secretary for Interior is to resign immediately," Eugene Wamalwa declared, his voice firm. "We fully support the impeachment motion being brought against you, and we urge all opposition Members of Parliament to back it without hesitation."
According to Wamalwa, such inflammatory remarks, coupled with the tragic events that have unfolded in the country lately, clearly constitute an abuse of office and endanger the lives of citizens. His sentiments powerfully echoed those of his colleague, Kalonzo Musyoka, who also condemned Murkomen's stance.
Wamalwa directly challenged the government's narrative, asking rhetorically, ''We want to ask President Ruto and CS Murkomen, is this the good job you have been talking about? Shooting youths and killing them aimlessly—is this what you are calling a good job?'' This sharp retort highlights the deep chasm between the government's rhetoric and the lived experience of citizens witnessing police brutality.
The burgeoning impeachment motion is reportedly being prepared by lawmakers who are incensed by Murkomen's public comments. These statements were made during a tour of Nairobi's Central Business District in the immediate aftermath of the June 25 protests, which tragically resulted in multiple deaths and injuries across the country.
In what critics describe as an unconstitutional and dangerous directive, Murkomen explicitly instructed police officers to use lethal force against anyone attempting to breach a police station. "Anyone approaching a police station, shoot them; a gun is not a toy," Murkomen stated, a remark that has since become a rallying cry for his critics.
Following these chilling sentiments, several Members of Parliament affiliated with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) swiftly revealed their plans to initiate an impeachment motion against the Interior CS. Eugene Wamalwa has now publicly thrown his full support behind these efforts, signaling a formidable bipartisan front against Murkomen.
Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji, a voice within the DCP camp, emphasized the gravity of the situation. “This Parliament must stand firm. The Interior Cabinet Secretary has overstepped his mandate by issuing unconstitutional directives that endanger lives. We cannot sit back and watch,” Mukunji asserted on Sunday, sentiments that were rapidly backed by more MPs from his political alignment.
