Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has called out a Nyahururu-based Officer Commanding Station (OCS) for proposing a reduction in the number of women recruited into the National Police Service.
OCS Isaac Kimutus had proposed a reduction in the hiring of female cops, saying that when it comes to hostile situations, such as managing protests, they dont come in handy.
In a rejoinder, however, Murkomen
said the Constitution mandates at least 30 per cent gender representation in
public service, and police recruitment must reflect that.
“You cannot say we cannot hire women. We have a
constitutional responsibility to pick 30 per cent. We are only at 14 per cent and
still struggling to get to 30 per cent,” Murkomen said.
Kimutus had said that during the Gen Z protests on
June 25 and July 7, 2025, he was forced to instruct his female officers to take charge of the stations.
He claimed that female officers are unable to cope with such
situations, even saying some vomit in their helmets.
“Kama ingewezekana kuandika wanawake iwe 20 percent. The rest waandikwe wanaume. Wakati kama wa June 25, na Saba Saba protests kwangu Nyahururu
niliambia wanawake wote wakae station,” Kimutus said.
“Because unakuta wanatapikia helmet. So ningeomba
percentage iwe kidogo so in a station unakuta wanaume wengi kuliko wanawake.”
This is loosely translated to (If it were possible, the
recruitment of women should be reduced to 20 per cent. Men should be recruited
instead. During times like the June 25 and Saba Saba protests in my Nyahururu
area, I told all the women cops to remain at the stations. Because you find them even vomiting in their helmets when deployed to manage protests. So, I would request that the percentage be lowered
so that stations have more men than women.)
Murkomen dismissed the remarks as poorly worded and
misleading.
“That OCS did not know how to package his words. He meant
policewomen should not be sent to fight bandits. But he should communicate
clearly to avoid sounding disrespectful to women,” he said.
“His example was not right.”
Murkomen also said police work is evolving and will rely
more on technology in the future.
“In future, officers will work from their vehicles, using
computers to monitor crimes.”
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja also responded,
assuring that the service remains gender inclusive.
“The National Police Service (NPS) is gender sensitive. We will cater for both genders when hiring. So do not worry, you are needed,” Kanja said.
