Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has reacted strongly to a viral video showing a man wielding a panga (machete) while confronting police officers during protests in Nakuru’s London Estate.
Speaking on Friday, June 13, Murkomen expressed concern over how some Kenyans were cheering and supporting the man on social media, despite the serious danger the situation posed.
He criticized this behavior, warning that such incidents could easily spiral into violent chaos and endanger both the police and the public.
“You can clearly see police officers trying their best to calm the situation, but then you have a man aggressively approaching them with a panga,” Murkomen said. “What’s even worse is that some Kenyans think it’s okay to celebrate or support this kind of action online or even in real life.”
The Cabinet Secretary emphasized that the government would no longer tolerate such behavior and warned that stricter action would be taken against individuals who act violently or threaten law enforcement.
He added that the government would start holding civilians accountable for their actions, especially in situations where public safety is at risk.
Murkomen pointed to a recent tragic event in Narok as an example of how things can go terribly wrong.
During a violent clash between civilians and police over a livestock-related dispute, a police officer’s hand was chopped off. He used this incident to underline how quickly tensions can escalate when citizens turn against police officers.
At the same time, Murkomen praised the police officers who were involved in the Nakuru protest for showing restraint despite being directly threatened. He acknowledged that it must have been a tense and dangerous moment, and commended them for not using excessive force in response to the man’s actions.
In the viral video, which has been widely circulated online, a man can be seen holding a sharp panga as he approaches a group of police officers.
The incident happened during a protest in the London area of Nakuru County. The video shows the man aggressively moving towards the officers, seemingly ready to attack.
In an attempt to stop him, one of the officers throws a tear gas canister, hoping to disperse the man and calm the situation.
However, the man appears undeterred and even goes as far as pretending to sharpen the panga on the tarmac road before continuing to move forward, shouting “endeni huko” (go away), causing the officers to retreat.
The man was part of a group of angry protesters who had taken to the streets following the controversial killing of a local resident, 35-year-old Duncan Nderitu. Nderitu was allegedly shot by a police officer during a heated encounter in the same area.
According to reports, the shooting occurred during a police operation where officers were trying to arrest a suspected drug dealer.
The situation quickly escalated when residents intervened and began to confront the police. In an effort to control the crowd, the officers fired warning shots in the air. Unfortunately, during the chaos, Nderitu was fatally shot.
The incident sparked public outrage, leading to the demonstrations in which the panga-wielding man was seen.
Protesters demanded justice for Nderitu and called for accountability from the police force. The video of the man confronting officers added to the already high tensions in the area and reignited the conversation about police conduct and public reaction during protests.
Murkomen’s remarks come at a time when tensions between law enforcement and the public remain high in several parts of the country, especially when police actions result in loss of life.
His message was clear — while citizens have the right to protest and demand justice, any form of violence or threats against police officers will not be tolerated and will be dealt with seriously by the government.
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