PLP leader Martha Karua has faulted the NCIC for failing to summon Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen over his recent order to police to shoot to kill protesters.

Speaking on a popular podcast on Tuesday, July 1, Martha Karua questioned why the NCIC is always quick to arrest individuals simply for expressing their views, yet has not issued any summons to Murkomen, who was clearly on record giving that directive to the police.

Karua went on to question the role of the NCIC, asking what their mandate is and why taxpayers continue to fund the commission if it cannot take action against Murkomen.

According to her, Murkomen should be behind bars, as the directive he gave does not fall within his mandate. Matters of police command lie under the jurisdiction of the Inspector General, not the Interior Cabinet Secretary.

“NCIC, why do we pay you? You summon people who are merely expressing themselves. How come you have not summoned Kipchumba Murkomen for the shot-to-kill order, which he denies, but he was captured by the media giving the exact order, an illegal order, because he does not command the police?” Karua stated.

She further argued that even if Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja had issued the same directive, it would still be illegal.

While there are specific situations where police are allowed to use necessary force, ordering officers to shoot protesters on sight amounts to excessive force, especially when dealing with unarmed civilians.

“Even if it was Inspector Kanja, it would still be an illegal order because there are circumstances where police are allowed to use necessary force; shooting people on site is not necessary; it is excessive force on unarmed protestors.” She added.

Murkomen’s shot-to-kill order

This comes days after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen’s shoot-to-kill order, issued on June 26, 2025, during visits to police stations following the violent Gen Z protests, sparked widespread outrage.

The directive, which targeted individuals approaching police stations with ill intent, has been condemned by human rights groups, lawyers, and politicians as reckless and unconstitutional, with concerns that it could incite extrajudicial killings.

 Critics, including Raila Odinga and the Law Society of Kenya, argue that it undermines the rule of law. Murkomen later clarified that his remarks were misinterpreted, citing legal provisions in his defence.