Tag: Murkomen News

Tension and chaos gripped Nairobi’s Kasarani Stadium on Thursday after massive crowds of mourners surged toward the area designated for the public viewing of the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga’s body. Police were forced to fire tear gas and even gunshots into the air to regain control of the 48,000-seater stadium.

The disorder erupted when thousands of mourners, desperate to pay their final respects, overwhelmed and pushed through security barriers inside the arena. The viewing had been relocated to Kasarani earlier in the day following an overwhelming turnout that had shut down central parts of the capital.

Murkomen to the rescue

Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen and PS Raymond Omollo had to intervene to police officers lobbing teargas at mourners; who had already filled the Kasarani Stadium.

They urged the police to stop the shooting; which dispersed the croud in confusion.

Live footage from the stadium showed security personnel struggling to contain the swelling crowd. The sudden use of tear gas and the sound of gunfire sent people fleeing in panic, leading to stampede-like scenes across the terraces.

Mourners Injured

Medical teams from the Kenya Red Cross immediately rushed to attend to the injured. Several mourners fainted or sustained injuries in the melee, with at least one person reported unconscious as security forces worked frantically to restore order and ensure the continuation of the solemn viewing process. The incident highlights the intense emotional impact and massive public outpouring sparked by the passing of the veteran politician.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has issued a strong warning to politicians allegedly hiring individuals to disrupt political campaigns ahead of the upcoming by-elections. He has threatened to apprehend everyone involved, from the goons themselves to the leaders who pay them.

Speaking on Wednesday, September 17, Murkomen expressed concern over the rising trend of using hired gangs to cause chaos at political rallies. He stated that the government would crack down on those responsible.

“Within the next month, we need to see most of these gang leaders, gangs, and goons facing the full force of the law,” Murkomen said. “And for anyone who is maintaining and paying young people to commit criminal offenses… we are not just coming for the gang leaders and gangs, we are also coming for you.”

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A Lucrative Business

Murkomen claimed that the practice of hiring goons is particularly prevalent in the Western region, and he provided startling figures on the scope of the issue. According to him, a single Member of County Assembly (MCA) could command a group of up to 100 goons, while Members of Parliament might control up to 500. He alleged that senior county leaders could even be in charge of groups ranging from 1,000 to 2,000.

The CS noted that this “business” has become increasingly lucrative, prompting the government’s decisive action.

Murkomen’s warning comes as politicians are already on the campaign trail for the nationwide by-elections scheduled for November 27. The by-elections, which will be overseen by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), will see candidates vying for more than 20 political seats at the ward, constituency, and senatorial levels. The IEBC has set October 8 and 9 for the nomination and registration of candidates.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has ignited a fierce debate after claiming that a recent documentary by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) featuring young girls was a staged and misleading portrayal of a social issue in Kenya. Murkomen’s serious accusation, made during a public address, has been met with strong reactions from the media, the public, and social commentators.

The BBC documentary in question focused on a sensitive social issue, presenting a narrative that highlighted the challenges and vulnerabilities faced by young girls in a specific region of Kenya. However, CS Murkomen, speaking at a public function, alleged that the scenes depicted in the film were not authentic. He claimed that the participants were paid actors and that the documentary was fabricated to fit a predetermined agenda.

“They went and picked some young girls, paid them, and told them what to say,” Murkomen stated, adding that such reporting unfairly tarnishes the country’s image on the international stage.

His remarks signal a government stance that the documentary was a misrepresentation of the reality on the ground and an example of sensationalist journalism.

The accusation has drawn a sharply divided public reaction. Supporters of the Cabinet Secretary have echoed his sentiments, arguing that some Western media outlets often sensationalize stories about Africa and fail to capture the true context of social issues. However, critics have condemned the remarks, accusing the government of attempting to deflect from a real problem by attacking the media. Many believe that if the issues raised in the documentary are genuine, the government’s focus should be on addressing them rather than discrediting the journalists who reported on them.

Murkomen’s public challenge to the BBC has escalated the ongoing debate about media representation, journalistic ethics, and the government’s role in responding to critical social issues. The controversy highlights the growing tension between the Kenyan government and international media organizations.

Intelligence-led operations have resulted in the arrest of nearly 1,500 individuals nationwide, who are now facing a battery of serious charges including terrorism, murder, robbery with violence, arson, and malicious property damage. This aggressive crackdown follows the violent unrest that rocked the nation on June 25 and July 7.

In a detailed statement released on Tuesday, Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced the staggering toll of the recent upheaval: 42 people killed and nearly 1,500 arrests made. The government emphatically branded these events not as protests, but as “pure, premeditated criminality,” and has vowed to rigorously prosecute the “financiers and political sponsors” of the chaos.

The ministry described the unrest as “raw and unprecedented terror,” which left close to 600 people injured. Significantly, this figure includes 496 police officers, suggesting that approximately 83% of those injured were law enforcement personnel. “This is unacceptable,” Murkomen stated, expressing condolences for every life lost and extending sympathies to the affected families.

According to the government’s report, the wave of violence was highly coordinated and involved targeted attacks on both public and private property on a scale “never before witnessed.” The ongoing intelligence-led operations have led to the arrests, with specialized units now handling the cases. The Serious Crimes Investigations Unit is managing 50 of the individuals, while the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) is handling 71 cases specifically for terrorism-related offenses.

“Those who incited, organized, funded, or executed these attacks will face the full force of the law,” Murkomen warned, underscoring the government’s determination. He further added, “The financiers and political sponsors of this mayhem are being investigated and will soon answer for their crimes.”

Systematic Attack on Police and Public Infrastructure

The government expressed particular alarm over a “disturbing trend” involving the direct targeting of security installations. This was framed as a “coordinated attempt to subvert the state’s ability to guarantee law, order, and public safety.” Over the two days of unrest, a total of 16 police stations and posts were either burned or destroyed, signaling a deliberate assault on public infrastructure and law enforcement presence.