Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has defended the police against criticism over the use of teargas on opposition politicians, saying officers only act in extreme situations where public peace is at risk.

Speaking during a live television interview on Monday, September 15, 2025, Murkomen insisted that peaceful convoys and rallies are never targeted, stressing that security agencies step in only when there are signs of violence or disruption.

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“If those convoys are peaceful and not disrupting public peace, there would be no need for police to use teargas. There have been many peaceful rallies,” Murkomen said.

He explained that officers do not arbitrarily block opposition leaders or their supporters, but instead act after careful monitoring of situations that could easily escalate into chaos.

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“If you see police officers blocking anybody, there must have been trailing that person for a long time; we don’t wait until you burn the shop for you to be blocked from going in that direction,” he noted.

According to the CS, law enforcement officers are duty-bound to prevent violence before it happens rather than wait for destruction of property or attacks on civilians. He emphasised that the country’s security must be protected at all costs.

“If we see your vehicle is carrying people with crude weapons, should we just allow you to go? Do the police do that in extreme situations?” Murkomen added.

His remarks come amid growing criticism from opposition leaders who accuse the police of using excessive force and targeting political gatherings unfairly. Murkomen, however, argued that the narrative overlooks the responsibility of security agencies to safeguard citizens and prevent lawlessness.

The CS maintained that while political freedoms are enshrined in the Constitution, they must be exercised within the boundaries of peace and security. He stressed that the police will continue to allow rallies and processions that remain orderly and non-violent, but warned that violent convoys would always attract intervention.

Murkomen’s firm defence of police actions underscores the government’s position that security cannot be compromised, even in the heat of political competition.