Raila Odinga, the leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party, has strongly criticised Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen for his recent directives to police officers, which were widely perceived as orders to shoot to death.
Speaking at a church service in his hometown of Bondo, the former prime minister denounced Murkomen's remarks, claiming that they nearly amounted to state officials acting lawlessly.
According to Raila, not only was a shoot-to-kill order unconstitutional, but it could further erode the public's confidence in law enforcers.
"Anybody giving instructions to a police officer to shoot anyone who gets near a police station, it's a big shame. Shame on you," Raila said.
He added, "We should not encourage taking away life in a way that is not constitutional. If someone has committed a crime, that person should be subjected to the law and taken to court. If the court finds him guilty, sentence him."
On Thursday, shortly after delivering a media briefing on the state of the country in the wake of the Gen Z protests, Murkomen appeared to suggest that police officers should resort to using their firearms if they feel threatened inside a police station.
Amid public outrage, Murkomen clarified his comments, insisting they were taken out of context and that he made them with the provisions of the law in mind.
"My statement was made contextually and consciously with clarity of mind based on the express provisions of the law. No leader, scholar, jurist, journalist, blogger, or opinion shaper has challenged me on the law," Murkomen noted.
The June 25 protests came with devastating implications, as property worth millions was destroyed, while several lives were lost, some at the hands of police officers.
Human rights groups have also reported that hundreds of civilians from across different countries sustained serious injuries from the mayhem on Wednesday.
Despite being critical of Murkomen's sentiments, Raila also called out sections of demonstrators, who resorted to destruction of property in what was supposed to be a day to commemorate young people who lost their lives during protests.
"But at the same time, we condemn the criminals who went to the streets to destroy property and burn a police station. That is not a solution," Raila declared.
