Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nyali MP Mohammed Ali has broken ranks with his United Democratic Alliance (UDA) colleagues, strongly condemning Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.

This follows the under-fire CS's recent shoot-to-kill directive issued to the National Police Service.

Ali’s criticism came barely 24 hours after Murkomen authorised police officers to use lethal force against anyone approaching police stations or attempting to interfere with government installations.

The CS, while addressing officers on June 26, said law enforcers had a right to protect themselves and the institutions they serve, especially in light of the June 25 protests that saw some demonstrators storm police stations.

But the directive, which Murkomen claimed was sanctioned "from above," has sparked fierce backlash from civil society, opposition figures, and now voices within the ruling party itself.

In a sharply worded statement on Friday, June 27, Ali accused the CS of normalising extrajudicial killings under the guise of national security.

The lawmaker, a once loyal supporter of Kenya Kwanza policies, warned that the state was losing the people’s trust.

He underscored that Kenya is a nation governed by laws and Murkomen's proclamations have no place in the country.

"Security must never come at the cost of Humanity. The shooting directive made by Kipchumba Murkomen yesterday is a chilling endorsement of extrajudicial killings, which have no place in our country. We are a nation of laws, not executions," the MP stated.

Ali, who rose to prominence as an investigative journalist before entering politics, accused the government of weaponising the police against its citizens.

The Nyali representative further warned that brute force would not solve Kenya’s deep-rooted problems.

Recently seen to be distancing himself from the ruling party, Ali suggested that Kenyans had grown disillusioned and no force would bring them back to supporting the government.

"The state should never weaponise the police against the people, because power built on bullets is only temporary. When the people are no longer with you, not even guns can save you," he added.

Earlier, Murkomen applauded police for their firm handling of Gen Z protests on June 25, commending their efforts to thwart what he described as an attempted coup targeting State House and Parliament.

He said officers operated under intense pressure and assured them full government support, including legal defence, asserting none had used excessive force.

Murkomen defended the use of firearms, arguing that when officers face threats, such as attacks on armouries or attempts to seize guns, they are justified in defending themselves.

Source: TUKO.co.ke