Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has issued a policy directive meant to guide police officers on the use of force and firearms after public outcry over police brutality, especially during protests.
This comes after 42 people were killed during the Saba Saba protests on July 7 alone.
In the policy directive number one of 2025, the first since Murkomen's appointment to the role, police officers are required to adhere to the law, police standing orders, and existing policy guidelines. "I have issued a policy directive on the use of force and firearms pursuant to Article 245(4) of the Constitution, the National Police Service (NPS) Act and the court decisions to the Inspector General of Police," said Murkomen. "I have dispatched the policy to the IG detailing the recommendations to use force factoring in the prevailing legal framework and court decisions." Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen issues policy directive on police use of force and firearms pic.twitter.com/oansYywTkd - The Standard Digital (@StandardKenya) July 18, 2025 According to the order, bullets will only be launched when necessary and where non-violent means have failed, to save officers or other people from death or serious injury.
Furthermore, law enforcement officers have been barred from using force to execute extrajudicial punishment or when they have safely detained a suspect.
