LSK Issues Demands To Murkomen After ‘Shoot-To-Kill’ Directive
The Law Society of Kenya has strongly condemned Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen’s direction in allowing police to shoot anybody who threatens officers or attacks police stations.
The legal body described the command as “ultra vires,” “illegal,” and “unconstitutional,” and warned law enforcement agents not to follow it.
In a statement issued on Friday, LSK president Faith Odhiambo emphasized that the police lack the jurisdiction to carry out such commands.
She further mentioned that Murkomen had distanced his office from any role in urging the police to take such harsh measures.
“We note that the Cabinet Secretary has no authority under the law to issue such an order,” Odhiambo said.
“Murkomen is on record in the National Assembly Hansard, distancing himself and his office from any involvement in issuing orders to the Inspector General and the National Police Service.”
Constructive dialogue and national reconciliation cannot be achieved through heightened tension, propaganda, and unlawful directives. Our duty as the @LawSocietyofKe remains to ensure that the rule of law is observed and that it remains in force – this cannot be achieved through… pic.twitter.com/351mcAtOmC
— Faith Odhiambo (@FaithOdhiambo8) June 27, 2025
Odhiambo emphasized that the sanctity of the right to life is guaranteed in Kenya’s constitution and may only be limited to certain and clearly defined conditions prescribed by law.
She cautioned that any use of disproportionate force or extrajudicial killings under the pretense of obeying Murkomen’s orders would be regarded as a major crime.
“Any unjustified act of aggression, disproportionate use of force, and extrajudicial killing that is done under the guise of fulfilling this order will be deemed as a deliberate, premeditated crime,” she added.
The LSK president encouraged the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, to step in and guarantee that police do not abandon their constitutional obligations in response to illegal commands or promises of protection from punishment.
“Any officer found to be engaging in such criminal conduct will be prosecuted in their individual capacity, and the blame to the extent of which command responsibility can be discerned will fall at the feet of the Inspector General,” Odhiambo warned.
The scandal began on Thursday when Murkomen publicly issued the “shoot-to-kill” order.
Murkomen has told the police to shoot to kill because the government will protect them. Ati pigeni risasi hao wajinga. This video will bring Murkomen down one day. #RutoMustGo pic.twitter.com/Z3CXsWOjM7
— Cornelius K. Ronoh (@itskipronoh) June 27, 2025
“We have directed the police that anyone who dares approach a police station with criminal intent, shoot them,” the CS stated.
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The directive was apparently intended for people who commit violent attacks on police stations or try to take firearms from them.
Murkomen then corrected his statement, claiming that the shoot-to-kill order only applied to criminals seeking to rob police stations or attack officers, rather than as a general instruction for any potential threats.
He made it clear that the goal was to safeguard cops and police facilities from violent criminals.
However, the clarification has done little to soothe the anger, with human rights organizations and legal experts expressing concerns about the possibility of abuse and an increase in police brutality.
LSK Issues Demands To Murkomen After ‘Shoot-To-Kill’ Directive
