State House Press Secretary Emmanuel Taalam has crossed a dangerous line with his recent remarks in Nandi Hills, turning what should be a message of law and order into a direct threat against Kenyans exercising their constitutional right to protest.
Instead of promoting peace or encouraging dialogue, Taalam chose the path of intimidation and fear, issuing reckless statements that sound more like those of a war general than a government worker who already enjoys the salary from Kenyan taxpayers.
His words were not just insensitive, they were downright dangerous and disrespectful to citizens who are already suffering under the weight of a government that seems increasingly out of touch.
When Taalam told residents to hand over their IDs and phone numbers before heading to Nairobi for protests, it wasn’t just a warning it was a scare tactic designed to silence dissent.
Then came the even more chilling part. He told Kenyans to choose their mortuary in advance. This was not a joke, not a metaphor, but a clear signal that the government is prepared to deal with protesters using bullets instead of dialogue.
He even said he told his own child to inform their mother which morgue they preferred in case they dared join a protest. That statement alone shows how far Taalam has fallen from any moral or responsible leadership.
No parent should speak of their child’s death casually, and no official should speak of citizens’ deaths as if they are part of a routine process.
Taalam did not speak like a national leader, but rather like a mouthpiece for brutality. His words insult the intelligence and dignity of the Kenyan people.
Telling citizens to prepare for the worst if they go to protest is not just a warning it is an admission that this government no longer respects its people.
It is trying to rule by fear rather than service. Instead of listening to the reasons why people are angry, why they are protesting, why they are frustrated with corruption, high taxes, and police brutality, Taalam chose to dismiss all of it by turning protesters into enemies of the state.
The people protesting are not thugs or looters. They are students, mothers, workers, and youth who are tired of empty promises and a government that only hears its own voice.
If there is violence or destruction, it should be condemned but so should the violence coming from security forces.
Yet Taalam’s speech shows no concern for the lives lost at the hands of police. He shows no interest in finding solutions, only in threatening more bloodshed.
His job as a State House official should be to promote calm, unity, and respect for the Constitution, not to issue shoot-to-maim threats or suggest morgues to protesters.
Kenya is a democracy. The right to assemble and protest is protected by the Constitution. It is not for Emmanuel Taalam or anyone in State House to decide who lives or dies based on whether they show up at a demonstration.
Such dangerous rhetoric has no place in public service. Kenyans are angry because their voices have been ignored. Instead of helping the President understand this, Taalam is pouring fuel on a burning fire.
Leaders who speak like this are not protecting the country they are provoking more pain.
They are making enemies out of ordinary citizens. And if something happens to any protester going forward, Emmanuel Taalam’s words will not be forgotten. His speech is not just a threat it is a public record of how far this administration is willing to go to silence dissent.
