Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has called out Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen over remarks that civilians attempting to breach police stations be shot.
Speaking on June 29, Raila condemned the use of excessive force by police and discouraged any directives that undermine the rule of law.
According to Raila, someone breaking the law should, instead, be arrested and be charged in a court of law.
Raila calls out CS Murkomen after the “shoot to kill” orders. Photo: Courtesy.
“We must also censor the police; the police should never shoot to kill; the police have no license to kill human beings. If somebody has committed a crime, arrest that person and take them before a court of law. Anybody giving instructions that police should shoot anyone who comes near a police station shame on you. We should not encourage taking away life in a way that is not constitutional; if somebody has committed a crime, that person should be subjected to the law,” he noted.
In a recent statement, CS Murkomen issued more clarification on the ‘shoot to kill’ remarks, maintaining that they had been misinterpreted.
“I have seen debates, reactions, and expressions regarding my recent statement on the use of firearms by police officers. My statement was made contextually and consciously with clarity of mind based on the express provisions of the law. No leader, scholar, jurist, journalist, blogger, or opinion shaper has challenged me on the law. At my age, position, and experience, I cannot utter statements that are not supported by the Constitution and the law,” he noted.
The interior CS moreover insisted that he had not issued any unlawful orders to police officers.
He further defended the conduct of police officers in the wake of violent protests, pointing out attacks on law enforcement infrastructure and personnel.
