Kipchumba Murkomen Condemns Attack on Gachagua, Blames Him for Not Giving Clear Notification
- Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen condemned the attack on Rigathi Gachagua’s convoy but blamed his team for ignoring security protocols
- He said Gachagua’s organisers failed to notify police about the rally, leaving officers unprepared to secure the event
- Murkomen stressed that notifying police is not about seeking permission but about ensuring safety for all citizens
- He ordered investigations into the stoning of Gachagua’s motorcade and the assault on journalists, warning that no political figure will be spared
Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has condemned the attack on former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua’s convoy along Mombasa Road.
Source: UGC
However, the CS did not hold back his criticism, faulting him for failing to follow security protocols.
How is Gachagua to blame for attack?
In a press briefing on Friday, August 22, Murkomen said the chaos that erupted during Gachagua’s return rally could have been avoided.
The CS explained that if the organisers of Gachagua's welcome had formally notified the police in advance, the incident would have been averted.
"We don’t want violence. The reason why the law says you notify the police is not so that the police can give you the right to hold meetings. It is for the police to provide security and to give the right security advice to the citizens of Kenya. Had we sat down and cooperated with the police officers, I don’t think the situation would have happened in the manner it did," Murkomen said.
The CS explained that security planning requires clear communication between political organisers and law enforcement.
He faulted Gachagua’s team for disregarding calls to notify the authorities, warning that failure to comply exposes supporters and the public to unnecessary risks.
"I heard one of their leaders, a former senator, saying they have no obligation to notify the police and that they don’t need the police to hold a meeting. Unfortunately, as a result of the absence of that notification yesterday, the police were not aware about what was going to happen, which route, what place," he stated.
Why should leaders notify NPS of political activities?
Murkomen dismissed claims by a section of the political class that notifying the police amounts to seeking permission.
He stressed that the role of the police is to protect all citizens equally, whether in government or opposition.
"In the National Police Service, we don’t advise only people who are in government. We advise also every citizen, including those in opposition, on the best thing to do security-wise as they carry out their activities," he said.
The CS urged all politicians and parties to cooperate with law enforcement to safeguard both supporters and bystanders during political rallies.
"We do not want situations where people refuse to notify the police, insist on having political activities notwithstanding police advice, and then go ahead to blame the same police," he opined.
Source: Facebook
Murkomen promised investigations into the stoning of Gachagua’s motorcade and the assault on journalists covering the procession.
He vowed that political standing would not shield anyone found responsible.
"Those events will be investigated. Anybody who will be found culpable, regardless of their political standing, will be held accountable. Anybody who organised for people to be stoned, journalists who were hurt, we will take very stern action against any person who is involved," he added.
How did Gachagua's attack unfold?
As earlier reported, the confrontation unfolded on Thursday, August 21, shortly after Gachagua’s return from the US.
He had landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to a warm reception from his supporters who had been waiting for hours to welcome him back.
His convoy left the airport towards the city centre, but at Imara Daima along Airport North Road, armed youths pelted the motorcade with stones.
The sudden attack forced a section of his supporters to flee, while others fought back, and the police responded with tear gas to disperse the rowdy crowds.
Among the worst-hit by the violence were journalists covering the procession, with reporters from Standard Group, Royal Media Services, and TV47 having their equipment destroyed and some sustaining injuries.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
