Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has drawn sharp criticism for likening last year’s youth-led protests against the Finance Bill to acts of terrorism, sparking widespread condemnation from civil society and human rights advocates.
Speaking on Monday, Murkomen defended the government’s handling of the demonstrations, during which protesters stormed Parliament in Nairobi. “In any civilized society in the world, anybody who invaded parliament would have been called a terrorist, straight away,” he said. “But here in Kenya, we still say peaceful protesters invaded Parliament.”
Murkomen questioned the label “peaceful” for the protests. “How can invasion and peace survive in one sentence?” he asked, suggesting that the description minimizes the severity of the incident.
His comments were swiftly rebuked by rights organizations. Amnesty International Kenya’s Executive Director, Irungu Houghton, condemned the characterization as inflammatory and ironic. “It’s deeply troubling for the Cabinet Secretary for Interior to liken protests by Gen Z to acts of terrorism,” Irungu said during an interview on Spice FM.
Murkomen also alluded to new legislation the government is proposing to regulate public demonstrations, emphasizing the need for order. “We want to create an opportunity for peaceful protests that respect everyone’s constitutional rights,” he stated.
However, Irungu raised broader concerns, particularly about the role of security agencies in recent abductions and killings. “We must ask whether the DCI officers who picked up Albert Ojwang’ were part of the same multi-agency task force linked to 89 abductions and 65 deaths last year,” he said.
Ojwang’, a schoolteacher and blogger, died in custody at Nairobi’s Central Police Station last week after his arrest in Homa Bay for allegedly posting derogatory remarks about Deputy Inspector-General Eliud Lagat. His death has intensified public outrage over police brutality and extrajudicial killings.
Following mounting pressure, Lagat stepped aside on Monday pending investigations into Ojwang’s death.
The ongoing debate underscores rising tensions between Kenya’s youth and state authorities, with growing calls for accountability, justice, and the protection of constitutional rights in the face of escalating crackdowns on dissent.
Written By Rodney Mbua
