Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has urged police officers to always uphold the law and serve with the highest standards of professionalism, whether they are in uniform or not.
Murkomen stated that wearing civilian clothes is not a license to break the law or commit atrocities against citizens.
“A police officer, whether in uniform or not, is still a police officer and must act within the confines of the law,” said Murkomen.
Addressing the press on Tuesday in Nairobi, the CS said the law does not grant special exemptions to officers operating in plain clothes.
“The same law that prohibits a uniformed officer from killing or abusing citizens is the same law that applies to those in civilian attire,” he added.
Murkomen acknowledged that some officers work undercover or are embedded in communities for investigative purposes.
He, however, insisted that this does not remove their accountability or duty to uphold the law.
“Police officers, whether they are using a Subaru, walking, or using a lorry, are expected to abide by the law. Any officer involved in unlawful killings must be investigated, and victims must get justice,” he said.
Murkomen was responding to a question on concerns about officers in civilian clothes during the Saba Saba protests.
He also clarified that during emergencies, officers are allowed to respond without wearing uniforms.
“Uniforms are only for identification, not a license to act. Even when off-duty, if a police officer must respond, they must still act lawfully,” he said.
Murkomen at the same time dismissed as false claims by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that a police squad has been formed to carry out extrajudicial killings.
He stated that he is not aware of such a unit, refuting claims made by some opposition politicians.
"There is no known police squad killing people. At least not in this administration and none that the Cabinet Secretary is aware of," he said.
"It will be unconstitutional and illegal to establish a squad anywhere in Kenya to kill people".
Murkomen stated that all police formations and units in the country are intended to protect Kenyans, not harm them.
