Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to exercise caution in its public pronouncements concerning the conduct of police officers during recent protests. Speaking in Baringo during his ongoing “Jukwaa la Usalama” county tours, Murkomen stressed that IPOA’s role is investigative rather than judicial and warned against rushing to condemn police officers before due investigations are concluded.
“Police officers acting in the line of duty must be afforded legal protection. While we will not shield those who commit crimes, we also won’t abandon officers who are defending Kenyans and safeguarding public property,” he stated.
Murkomen emphasized that police have a constitutional mandate to protect life and property, and deserve the right to self-defense and the use of necessary force under law. He added that the government had already provided clear policy direction to the Inspector General on this matter.
The CS took issue with IPOA’s recent statements, accusing the body of what he termed “selective outrage.” He claimed IPOA had overlooked acts of violence by some demonstrators, including the burning of police stations in Kikuyu and Ol Kalou and the theft of firearms.
“Those who burn police stations, steal firearms, and destroy public infrastructure are not peaceful protesters,” he asserted. “You cannot claim police used disproportionate force without acknowledging the violence they faced, including the use of petrol bombs.”
Murkomen also questioned IPOA’s silence on incidents such as suspects being burned inside a police station, suggesting that such omissions skew public perception and risk delegitimizing the authority’s oversight role.
He called for an “honest national conversation” on policing, public protests, and accountability, arguing that the current narrative often fails to reflect the complexity of the security challenges faced on the ground.
“Let us stop sugarcoating the truth. Not every person involved in recent events was innocent, and we must be truthful about that,” Murkomen added.
The Jukwaa la Usalama meetings bring together local security personnel, residents, and stakeholders to address security concerns across the Rift Valley region.
