Murkomen praises police amid outcry over protest deaths

By Newsflash Writer

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has stirred controversy after commending the police for what he termed a “job well done” during the 35th Saba Saba anniversary protests, despite widespread reports of police brutality and loss of life.

Murkomen, in a statement issued Monday evening, acknowledged the significance of Saba Saba Day as a cornerstone of Kenya’s democratic journey but insisted that recent protests had been hijacked by criminal elements.

“Saba Saba commemorates a turning point in our country’s journey to multi-party democracy, order, and better governance,” Murkomen said. “Kenyans have the right to mark the day in peace and decency. Unfortunately, peaceful demonstrations have recently been infiltrated by criminals out to cause chaos and destruction.”

The Cabinet Secretary said he toured various parts of Nairobi to personally thank police officers for their service and vigilance. He credited their actions with preventing what he described as a repeat of the violence witnessed in previous protests.

“This evening, I went around Nairobi City to thank our law enforcement officers who were on duty to ensure the safety of our people and the security of their property,” he said. “Thanks to their efforts and other officers across the country, incidents of violence, looting, and destruction of property were markedly reduced today compared to last week.”

KNCHR reports deaths and injuries linked to police

However, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) painted a grimmer picture of the day’s events. In its own statement, the Commission revealed that at least 10 people had died and 29 others sustained injuries during the protests across 17 counties. Most of these casualties, the Commission said, were linked to excessive force used by police.

KNCHR also documented two abductions and 37 arrests. The Commission raised alarm over the presence of hooded, unidentified officers operating in unmarked vehicles—despite a High Court order requiring all officers managing demonstrations to be in uniform and identifiable.

It further condemned the collaboration between police and criminal gangs seen in areas like Nairobi and Eldoret, where armed thugs reportedly assaulted peaceful protesters with crude weapons. The Commission demanded accountability for these acts and urged the government to halt the crackdown on human rights defenders.

Despite the fatalities and numerous accounts of brutality, Murkomen maintained that the heightened security presence was necessary to preserve law and order.

“While the inconvenience faced in accessing places of work today is regrettable, the heightened security measures were necessary to ensure the safety of our people and the security of their property and businesses,” he stated.

Murkomen added that suspects involved in violent acts during previous demonstrations, particularly those on June 25, had already been arraigned, and investigations into Monday’s incidents were underway.

But his remarks have drawn criticism from civil society groups and online commentators, who accused the government of whitewashing police brutality and ignoring the real cost of the protests on human lives.