Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen is facing intense criticism after likening last year’s youth-led protests against the Finance Bill to acts of terrorism. His remarks have sparked widespread backlash, particularly from human rights organizations and civil society.
Speaking on Monday, Murkomen defended the government’s handling of the 2023 demonstrations, during which protesters stormed Parliament buildings in Nairobi. “In any civilized society in the world, anybody who invaded Parliament would have been called a terrorist. But here in Kenya, we still say peaceful protesters invaded Parliament,” he said.
He questioned the use of the term “peaceful” to describe the protests, arguing that an invasion and peace cannot coexist. Murkomen also cited upcoming legislation that aims to regulate demonstrations to ensure they occur in a peaceful and orderly manner.
However, Amnesty International Kenya Executive Director Irungu Houghton condemned Murkomen’s characterization. Speaking on Spice FM, Houghton termed it “deeply ironic and troubling” for a state official to equate the actions of peaceful demonstrators, many of whom were young Kenyans advocating for accountability, with terrorism.
Beyond the semantics of protest, Houghton raised serious concerns about recent human rights violations, particularly the death of schoolteacher and blogger Albert Ojwang’. Ojwang’ died in custody at the Nairobi Central Police Station just over a week ago, after being arrested in Homa Bay for allegedly posting critical content about Police Deputy Inspector-General Eliud Lagat.
Human rights groups have linked Ojwang’s arrest to a pattern of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, claiming that 89 abductions and 65 deaths were recorded last year. Following public outrage, Lagat stepped aside from his role on Monday to allow investigations into the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death.
As outrage over police brutality continues to grow, Murkomen’s comments have added fuel to an already volatile national conversation. Critics argue that labeling protesters as terrorists undermines legitimate democratic dissent and deflects attention from the state’s own accountability in handling civil liberties.
