Murkomen Fires Back at Reuben Kigame Over ICC Remarks

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has hit back at gospel artist and 2027 presidential aspirant Reuben Kigame over a petition seeking to have him prosecuted for alleged crimes against humanity during recent anti-government protests.

Speaking in Kajiado on Friday, August 1, Murkomen dismissed Kigame’s call to take him to the International Criminal Court (ICC) as politically motivated.

“I saw a particular church person saying I should be reported to the ICC, and he did not say anything about the policy proposed by NACADA to fight against alcoholism,” Murkomen said. "The church never came to our defence after the criticism of the NACADA policy. They didn't even come out to say it's a good move."

Murkomen’s response comes after Kigame had filed a petition at the Milimani High Court on Thursday, July 31, seeking to prosecute Murkomen, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, Director of Criminal Investigations Amin Mohamed, and Director of National Intelligence Service Noordin Haji.

The move followed what he described as a state-led campaign of killings, abductions, and torture during protests between 2024 and 2025, which he said claimed the lives of over 100 protesters and bystanders.

The petition argues that the government failed to protect its citizens and that key security figures were directly or indirectly responsible for the violence.

Kigame, through his lawyer Gitobu Imanyara, further accused the Director of Public Prosecutions of ignoring the violations, prompting the push for private prosecution.

Murkomen, however, accused Kigame and others backing the petition of ignoring the violent attacks on police stations and public property during the same demonstrations.

The CS also used the occasion to address criticism over recently proposed NACADA policies, which aim to combat underage drinking.

“They are fighting us. I saw a very big, respectable company arguing that the economy will go down if the age limit is 21, because fewer consumers will be. Who in their right mind thinks like that?” he said.

“If we can say that it’s okay to advertise alcohol during prime time, to sell alcohol near school, to make a profit out of teenagers, then there is a problem in this country,” he added.

Kigame, who has vowed to escalate the case to the ICC if local avenues fail, insists that the petition is about justice for victims and accountability for top officials.