Interior CS Kithure Kindiki has said police officers should use firearms to protect civilians, public property and themselves from criminals.
He spoke on Friday during the memorial ceremony for police and prison warders who died on the line of duty since November 2021 at Embakasi AP Training.
"Our officers should use their firearms and other weapons to protect the public, property and themselves from criminals. Because if you are injured or killed by the enemy, the state of the country is deteriorated," he said.
"I don't know how clear I can be," he added.
His remarks came the same day High Court ruled that police cannot use firearms unless when acting in self defence, preventing an imminent threat to life or serious injury to others.
The ruling followed a petition filed in 2017 by Katiba Institute and AfriCOG challenging amendments to the National Police Service Act.
The amendments allowed officers, for instance, to use their weapons to protect property even if there were no risk of serious physical harm to the officer or others.
The plaintiffs argued that using firearms in the absence of threat of serious harm to the officer or others was unconstitutional.
In his address, Kindiki appeared to hit out at the Independent Policing Oversight Authority saying the police watchdog did not speak out against crimes against police officers.
He pointed out that in October, eight police officers and an administration chief were killed by bandits in Turkana East.
"I did not hear the kind of voices I normally hear when a police officer misuses a firearm which is a very rare occurrence. It's as if officers are supposed to wait and be killed by bandits," he said.
"Therefore, use the gun to defend the public, their property and yourself."
In attendance at the memorial ceremony were Interior PS Raymond Omollo, IG Japhet Koome, Correctional Services PS Mary Muthoni and Prisons Commissioner General Brig (Rtd) John Warioba.
Koome reiterated the CS's statement, saying the officers were trained to use their guns.
"We have a mandate to protect life and property. A gun is not a pen to write with," he said.
