CS Murkomen Breaks Silence After Attack on Gachagua Convoy

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has broken his silence following the stone-pelting incident that targeted former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's convoy on Thursday, August 21. 

Speaking to the media, Murkomen noted that the violence could have been avoided if the political party had followed proper procedures by notifying police of their planned activities.

"We don't want violence," Murkomen stated, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between political groups and law enforcement agencies.

The Interior CS revealed that he had advised political leaders three days prior to notify police of their planned activities, but a former senator turned him down, arguing that they had no obligation to inform authorities.

"I had one of their leaders, a former senator, saying that they have no obligation to notify the police and that they don't need the police to hold a meeting," Murkomen explained.

He attributed the Thursday incident to the lack of proper notification, which left the police unprepared for the event.

"Unfortunately, as a result of the absence of that notification yesterday, the police were not aware of what was going to happen, which route, which place," he said. "The law says you notify the police, not so that the police can give you the right to hold meetings. No, it's just for the police to provide security and to give the right security advice to the citizens of Kenya.”

Murkomen announced that investigations into Thursday's incident are ongoing and warned that anyone found culpable would face consequences regardless of political standing.

He particularly condemned the attacks on journalists during the incident, promising stern action against perpetrators.

"Anybody who organized for people to be stoned, journalists who were hurt, we will take very stern action against any person who is involved."

Previously, Murkomen had denied being aware of a heavy police presence at JKIA when questioned about the extensive security arrangements around the airport ahead of Gachagua's return from the United States.

The stone-pelting attack occurred around the City Cabanas area along Mombasa Road as Gachagua's convoy made its way from JKIA. 

Multiple people, including Citizen and TV 47's journalists, sustained injuries during the chaotic scenes that forced the former Deputy President's procession to halt. 

Security concerns had begun earlier at JKIA, where groups of youths had arrived on motorcycles. Airport security delayed Gachagua's departure while assessing the situation.

The same groups later appeared along the convoy route, where they disrupted the procession by hurling stones.