Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has ignited outrage with his astonishing claim that no Kenyan has died at the hands of police since President William Ruto’s administration came to power. Murkomen categorically denied the occurrence of police killings, framing Kenya Kwanza’s governance as a departure from the alleged atrocities of past regimes.
“There has never been a policy of killing people the way we used to see bodies dumped in River Yala or River Tana. Since Kenya Kwanza took over two years ago, nobody has been killed,” Murkomen stated during a press briefing.
His remarks, however, directly contradict well-documented reports by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and Amnesty International Kenya, which detail police brutality during anti-government protests in 2023. These protests, triggered by the Finance Bill and rising living costs, left over 30 dead—many allegedly killed by police bullets.
The controversy deepens with the discovery of unclaimed bodies in rivers and shallow graves, reigniting fears of extrajudicial killings. Families of victims and activists have accused the government of perpetuating a culture of denial while justice for the dead remains elusive.
This comes as demonstrations kick off today across the country, with citizens demanding answers on the increasing cases of abductions and the whereabouts of missing youths. Protesters are also calling for the government to release abducted individuals allegedly held incommunicado by state security agencies.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga blasted Murkomen’s remarks, calling them a “cruel insult to victims and their families.” He added, “This government cannot erase the blood on its hands with empty words. The people demand accountability.”
As pressure mounts, the Ruto administration finds itself cornered by growing public outrage, with citizens demanding truth and justice for the lives lost and those still missing under suspicious circumstances.
