Human rights defenders and lawyers at the Coast have demanded the immediate resignation of Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, accusing them of failing to curb rising insecurity across the country.
Addressing journalists in Mombasa on Friday during nationwide protests by lawyers over the killing of advocate and law lecturer Prof. Kyalo Mbobu in Nairobi, the activists said Kenyans were living in fear due to what they termed a breakdown of law and order.
Coast Civil Society Organisation Chairperson and advocate Zedekiah Adika said the spate of killings had eroded public confidence in the state’s ability to protect its citizens.
“If lawyers, activists and innocent Kenyans are being killed every day, then we wonder who is safe in this country. We demand nothing but urgent action so that Kenya becomes habitable for all,” said Mr. Adika.
Vocal Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid echoed the calls, accusing the state of colluding with criminal elements and failing to respond to attacks targeting lawyers, magistrates, human rights defenders and ordinary citizens.
“The state of security in our country has never been this poor. Security must improve or else the top security officers — IG Kanja and CS Murkomen — should step aside so that we get serious leaders fit for the job,” said Khalid.
Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) Executive Director Wallid Kassim also criticised the government, noting that despite the Interior Ministry receiving one of the largest budget allocations, insecurity continued to worsen.
“Unless it is government-sanctioned, how can one ride on a motorbike and kill someone in broad daylight without immediate action to apprehend them?” posed Kassim.
He added that promises of compensation for victims of police brutality were misplaced, insisting that Kenyans want tangible improvements in security, not payouts.
Haki Africa Rapid Response Officer Mathias Shipetta questioned why killings continue despite the presence of CCTV cameras on major highways, terming it a sign of weak security infrastructure. His colleague at MUHURI, Francis Auma, said the killings and violent crackdowns on protests had intensified since President William Ruto assumed office.
“We have never witnessed these levels of insecurity before. State agencies have been teaming up with goons to disrupt peaceful protests and kill innocent Kenyans. We demand better protection of lives,” said Auma.
Context
The demands come in the wake of growing public concern over violent crime and targeted attacks in the country. The killing of Prof. Kyalo Mbobu — a respected lawyer and lecturer — has sparked outrage among the legal fraternity, who staged protests nationwide calling for accountability from security agencies.
Rights defenders argue that despite increased funding to the Interior Ministry and the police service, insecurity has persisted, raising questions about leadership and accountability in the country’s top security organs.
