Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has issued a stern warning to former and serving security officers involved in politically charged armed activities, saying they will face increased surveillance. He described the trend as a dangerous and subversive threat to national stability.

Murkomens remarks come amid an ongoing government crackdown on the Fighting Brutality and Impunity (FBI) movement a group founded by ex-Kenya Defence Forces soldier and security expert Patrick Osoi, former prison officer Jackson Kuria Kimani (popularly known as Cop Shakur), and police constable Hiram Kimathi. The group claims to defend victims of extrajudicial killings.

Speaking during the 23rd Jukwaa la Usalama grassroots engagement forum in Laikipia County, Murkomen raised concern over the growing number of former disciplined service officers allegedly using their training to fuel fear under the guise of activism.

There are some characters who I saw online calling themselves forces fighting police brutality, and yet they were carrying guns and training using jungle AKs, trying to intimidate the people of Kenya, Murkomen stated.

Murkomen insisted that former and serving officers engaging in politically driven armed activities will face strict surveillance. He emphasized that individuals trained in the use of weapons, such as ex-police officers, former military personnel, and those still in service, have a higher responsibility to uphold peace, not threaten it.

I want to tell all police officers who are out of service, all military officers out of service, they have a greater responsibility than civilians, and we will put them under very big surveillance, Murkomen said. Those are people who were highly trained by the government of Kenya on the use of arms. Once they start threatening the public and threatening the government, we consider that subversive activity.

Murkomen revealed that the government had already started taking action against such threats.

Im glad that this year we have investigated, arrested, and charged some of them. We know they are establishing a military wing of their political activities. We will not allow that, he said.

He made it clear that any officer using their position or retirement to engage in armed political agitation would face decisive government action.

Let me be very clear: those officers who are doing politics in office or exiting office to go and carry out criminal activities must be dealt with firmly.