Calls to impeach Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen have intensified after Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji accused him of failing to stop police brutality following the killing of protestors in Ishiara, Embu County.
Speaking in Parliament, Mukunji strongly criticized the Interior Ministry over the shooting of two young men during demonstrations held on April 14 over poor conditions at Ishiara Level 4 Hospital.
The protests, which began as a push for better healthcare services, ended in tragedy after police reportedly opened fire on the crowd.
A third person who was injured during the chaos later died in hospital, raising the death toll to three.
The lawmaker said the incident reflected a serious failure in leadership, arguing that the Interior CS should be held responsible for repeated cases where police officers use live ammunition against civilians during protests.
He questioned why Kenyans exercising their constitutional right to demonstrate continue to face violent responses from security officers.
Mukunji told the House that families in his county were still mourning and seeking justice after the shootings. He noted that more than ten bullets were reportedly collected by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority from the scene, saying the evidence pointed to excessive force.
According to the MP, Parliament has the authority to summon the Interior CS and even begin impeachment proceedings over what he described as failure to control rogue officers.
He also accused the ministry of focusing on suppressing peaceful political gatherings while failing to address insecurity in other parts of the country, including bandit attacks in Baringo.
His remarks added a political dimension to a matter that had already sparked public anger in Embu, where residents have continued demanding accountability over the deaths.
Mukunji, however, appeared doubtful that any impeachment effort would succeed, saying the broad-based political arrangement in Parliament has made it difficult for proposals seen as critical of the government to gain support.
He suggested the political reality in the House could shield top officials from scrutiny even in serious matters involving loss of life.
His comments came shortly after post-mortem findings confirmed that two of the victims died from excessive bleeding caused by single gunshot wounds.
The findings reinforced claims that the protestors were shot with live bullets, further intensifying calls for justice.
The demonstrations had reportedly been triggered by long-standing complaints over shortages of medicine, unreliable ambulance services and poor infrastructure at Ishiara Level 4 Hospital.
Residents had taken to the streets demanding urgent action to improve the facility before the protests turned chaotic.
Witnesses claimed police fired at the crowd while attempting to disperse protestors, leading to the fatal shootings.
The deaths have since drawn national attention, with human rights defenders and local leaders calling for those responsible to be prosecuted.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority has launched investigations into the incident, with expectations that the probe will establish who ordered the use of live ammunition and whether officers involved acted outside the law.
