Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has defended the Government’s stance on free speech, stating that it does not engage in censorship. Speaking in Tana River during his Jukwaa La Usalama county tours, Murkomen clarified that he never condemned Echoes of War, a play by Butere Girls High School that was set to be performed at the 63rd Kenya National Drama and Film Festival in Nakuru.
The play, which was reportedly critical of war and governance issues, became the subject of controversy after security officers disrupted rehearsals and journalists covering the event were tear-gassed. Murkomen distanced himself from claims that he sought to ban the play, insisting that his concerns were directed at “the involvement of political activists in the education of our children.”
“The Government is not threatened by Echoes of War or any script, for that matter,” he said. “Like many of us, I studied literature and understand its significance. My point is that teachers, as trained professionals, should guide students in accordance with their code of conduct.”
Murkomen, however, was tight-lipped on the barring of journalists to access the venue and the prohibition of audience at the Butere Girls performance.
Murkomen also warned politicians against using students for political purposes, saying schools should remain neutral spaces for learning. “I fully support freedom of speech and media, as long as it does not promote hate, insults, or glorification of crime,” he add
Tear-Gassing of Journalists
The CS issued an apology for the police action against journalists covering Echoes of War rehearsals, calling it unacceptable. He promised that action would be taken against any security officers found to have used excessive force in handling the situation.
But media practitioners have little faith in the words of Kipchumba Murkomen, “I doubt any action will be taken unless we see it happen. This is media management at play, and we’ve seen it long enough. For instance—there’s still an unresolved case where a police officer shot a K24 journalist last year, yet no action has been taken to date,” Nakuru Journalists Association (NJA) chairperson Joseph Openda told Shahidi News.
While in Tana River, CS also held discussions on local challenges, including resource conflicts and disaster preparedness. “Tana River is one of the counties most affected by climate change, and we must explore ways to mitigate these effects,” he said.
He noted that the region experiences severe drought for half the year, leading to conflicts between farmers and pastoralists, while the other half is marked by flooding, underscoring the need for a stronger disaster response framework.
State of Police Welfare
Addressing concerns over police deployments, Murkomen promised to improve working conditions for officers, stating that no part of the country should be considered a “punishment post.” He acknowledged that personnel shortages had disrupted rotation schedules, forcing some officers to remain in hardship areas for extended periods.
“The recruitment of 10,000 police officers and a stricter rotation policy will help address the issue of overstaying in one station,” he assured.
The visit focused on security, governance, and community welfare, with the leaders engaging in discussions on strategies to improve service delivery in the region.
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