Murkomen’s “Shoot Them” Remark Could Have Tragic Effects

By Alphonce Otieno

Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen said something that’s been bothering many Kenyans.

During his recent remarks, he said:

"The problem that sometimes makes police officers shoot criminals is that they arrest them, they get released, and then they come back to mock the police, telling them, 'So, where did we reach? There’s nowhere you’re going.' Isn’t that true? And we have told the police that anyone who comes near a police station, shoot them."

What does this mean for you, me, or anyone walking near a police station? What if someone is just passing by? What if someone is seeking help? Do they risk being shot, just because an officer feels "mocked and threatened"?

But let’s be honest. Many Kenyans saw brutality videos circulated. Gen Zs beaten. Some even lost their lives.

Shortly after his remarks, chaos followed, in Ndunyu Njeru Police Station, Nyandarua County. An angry mob torched a police station, a powerful and painful reaction that shows just how deep the public anger and mistrust run. People aren’t just protesting anymore but reacting to what they feel is open hostility from those meant to protect them. And when a leader says “shoot them,” it doesn’t cool the fire, it pours petrol on it.

So, when a top government official says “shoot them” so casually, it’s more than just words. It normalizes violence. It fuels fear.

It gives a green light to those already abusing power.

This isn’t just about politics. It’s about life. About our brothers and sisters. About young people who might never come back home just because they were “near a station.”

Words from leaders matter. They either protect us or endanger us.

And in a country where trust in the police is already low, such statements don’t help, they hurt.

So the question is: Will Murkomen withdraw his words? Or will Kenyans be forced to walk in fear, especially near police stations?