Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has dismissed calls to resign following the murder of Albert Ojwang while in police custody, insisting that he remains committed to delivering on his mandate.
Murkomen spoke on Wednesday when he appeared before the Senate alongside Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Amin Mohamed, as well as Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) Vice Chairperson Anne Wanjiku for grilling following Ojwang’s death and a subsequent damning autopsy report that placed the police squarely in the middle.
The Interior CS defended his record and said his focus was on fixing the challenges facing the National Police Service (NPS).
He highlighted his nearly six-month tenure at the helm of the Interior docket, citing the work he has done to revamp the ministry.
“I know for a fact that when I got to the office, there were challenges in our National Police Service. I am used to the song that ‘Murkomen must go’—some Senators have been singing that even before I finished two months in office,” he said.
“In moments like this, for those who served before me and those who will serve after, the duty to serve overrides the condemnation to throw in the towel. It is important that as a leader, when faced with a challenge, you provide solutions. When you become the kind of leader who runs away from solutions, then you miss that opportunity.”
The CS was responding to sharp criticism from Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, who urged him to vacate office, arguing that he had failed to uphold national security and protect citizens.
“The National Security Council, where you sit, is charged with promoting and guaranteeing security of the country, and you have the audacity to come and face Parliament and tell Kenyans you don’t see, you don’t know,” Khalwale had said earlier on.
“For the respect of this young man, who is yet to grow and chin up to the age of 31, can you immediately resign? You are not fit to be in that docket… please resign. You cannot be an inspiration in Cabinet.
Murkomen instead remained firm, stating that he shouldn’t be the focus, adding that the responsibility for investigating and prosecuting those involved in Ojwang’s murder lies with IPOA, not his office.
The CS referenced his mandate in the Constitution, dismissing calls by a section of the public to oversee the dismissal of senior police officers – specifically Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat – arguing that it was not within his jurisdiction.
Lagat has become a subject of public interest in the case, since Ojwang was allegedly arrested following a social media post he made against the top cop.
“Eliud Lagat, despite being the DIG, took the step to report what he thought was a crime committed against him and went as far as reporting it to the DCI. Investigations were done and, in the process, somebody died. The evidence must lead to the suspect. The responsibility of exonerating or charging him, however, rests with IPOA—not me,” said Murkomen.
“The only difference is that, because I am a CS, I cannot demand speedy investigations in public when I can just give him a call. The speed with which this matter has been handled is commendable.”
