A Cabinet Secretary adrift: Murkomen’s moment of national embarrassment
Footage widely circulated online showed CS Murkomen appearing helpless — desperately pleading with armed police officers to stop firing tear gas and live rounds at mourners. At one point, he was seen frantically waving his arms and pointing toward the stands, shouting at office..
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Kenya's Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen faced national embarrassment following chaotic security failures during the reception and public viewing of veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga's body. Incidents at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Kasarani Stadium highlighted a severe breakdown in security command and crowd management.
- At least three people died and several were injured during the Kasarani chaos, with security forces firing tear gas and live rounds at mourners.
- Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen was seen desperately pleading with officers to stop firing, raising questions about his competence and the security chain of command.
- The JKIA experienced a security breach where thousands of mourners overwhelmed barriers, forcing the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) to temporarily shut down airspace for nearly two hours.
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Security Failures and Violence During Mourning Events for Raila Odinga - October 2025
The mourning period for Raila Odinga was marked by security failures and violence. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen faced national embarrassment following chaotic incidents and a breakdown in security command at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Kasarani Stadium. At Kasarani, a shooting occurred when police opened fire on mourners during a public viewing, and a rights group identified two victims. Leaders in Kisumu have since urged for calm ahead of the body's homecoming, following chaotic scenes in Nairobi that left at least four people dead. Additionally, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino alleged a planned attack against him before the burial.
