Police Constable Hiram Kimathi has publicly refused a transfer to Todonyang Police Station, claiming the move is not a routine administrative decision but a form of punishment for speaking out against a government directive he believes is unconstitutional.
Kimathi, who was previously stationed at Kyumbi Police Station near Machakos Junction, made the announcement on his social media platforms, where he accused the police leadership of using transfers as a tool of intimidation against officers who challenge orders they find morally or legally wrong.
“This isn’t just a transfer—it’s a warning shot to every officer with a conscience,” Kimathi posted. “If you dare question the state or defend the Constitution, you’ll be silenced and exiled to isolation.”
Kimathi’s remarks come in the wake of his viral TikTok video in which he strongly criticized Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen’s June 27 directive that police should shoot anyone who tries to storm a police station with criminal intent.
“We’ve instructed police officers to shoot any individual approaching police stations with harmful intentions,” Murkomen had said in his public address.
Reacting to the statement, Kimathi condemned it as unconstitutional and dangerous, arguing that such a directive amounted to state-sanctioned extrajudicial killings. He emphasized that police officers swear an oath to uphold the Constitution—not to blindly obey orders that could violate human rights.
“We are not trained or empowered to carry out unlawful killings. Our job is to protect life and enforce the law with integrity,” Kimathi stated in the video.
Shortly after releasing the video, Kimathi was served with a transfer letter instructing him to report to Todonyang Police Station, a remote and under-resourced outpost located along Kenya’s border with Ethiopia.
The letter, which he also shared publicly, instructed him to present himself to the station’s commanding officer upon arrival for further instructions.
However, Kimathi rejected the directive outright, declaring that he would not comply with what he views as an act of retaliation.
“I am not going anywhere. I will not be bullied into silence or exile for speaking out against injustice,” he said.
His criticism also extended to President William Ruto, who during the July 9 launch of the Police Housing Project at Kilimani Police Station echoed Murkomen’s sentiments. The President had suggested that those attacking police stations or private property should be shot in the leg and later face legal action.
“If someone attempts to storm a police station or vandalize private businesses, shoot them in the leg. Let the courts deal with the rest afterward,” President Ruto had remarked.
Kimathi strongly opposed the President’s position, saying such statements risk encouraging police brutality and undermining the constitutional role of law enforcement officers.
Todonyang, the station Kimathi has been assigned to, is located in a volatile region in the northeastern part of Turkana County. The area is known for insecurity, poor infrastructure, minimal government services, and frequent cross-border attacks—making it one of the least desirable postings for any officer.
Kimathi’s stand has since sparked public debate, with many Kenyans online praising his bravery while others question the implications of defying a formal transfer order in a disciplined service.
As the situation unfolds, it highlights growing tensions within the police service over the ethical boundaries of following orders versus upholding constitutional rights.
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