Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has defended security officers over how they handled the security breach at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) after the arrival of the late Raila Odinga’s body from India.
The CS said the police showed commendable restraint in the face of provocation.
Speaking at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology on Sunday, Murkomen said the situation could have escalated into tragedy had the officers responded with force.
He noted that the operation required patience, coordination, and calm judgment under pressure.
“It was a very challenging event because it’s not something we had planned for. It wasn’t in the government’s schedule,” he said.
“But I’m glad that through a multi-agency effort, our teams managed to handle it in a very complicated and difficult environment, and in the end, we got it right,” Murkomen added.
The CS said there were moments when the situation at the airport became tense and unpredictable.
However, he emphasized that security agencies made a deliberate decision to avoid confrontation for the safety of the public.
“Some may think it was easy, but it wasn’t. The police could have used force, but the consequences would have been too bad,” Murkomen explained.
He admitted that there were a few breaches at the airport but said the government learned and adjusted quickly as the day progressed.
Murkomen said cooperation between the security sector and citizens improved as the events moved from JKIA to Nyayo Stadium and other venues.
“By the time we reached Nyayo and later Bond Road, the coordination had greatly improved. The supporters of the former Prime Minister worked with the security teams, and that’s how we managed to maintain peace,” he said.
In addition, CS Murkomen praised the police, military, and other security agencies for working in unity under immense pressure.
He spoke ahead of the former Prime Minister’s final interment rights at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST).
The arrival of Raila’s body at JKIA saw his supporters breach security and entered the VIP section stopping some of the planned military activities from taking place.
They then marched with the body for hours up to the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani.
