What the Luhya Culture Says About Shooting to Kill, According to Boni Khalwale

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has publicly expressed strong disagreement with directives reportedly issued by President William Ruto and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kiphumba Murkomen concerning the use of force, specifically shooting, against individuals during protests or looting incidents.

Speaking at a public function in Butere, Senator Khalwale firmly rejected the notion of shooting young people, particularly in the leg, stating that the Luhya community doesn’t support that because of cultural reasons.

"The issue of supporting the p[resident’s directives when he says shoot our young men in the leg, that's yours, not the Luhyas. We Luhyas don't kill people. I don't know if there's an old man back there, in the Luhya culture, even if a thief steals all the cows, we don't kill them,” Khalwale said.

Senator Khalwale directly challenged the stance of both Murkomen and the President, emphasizing his disagreement by stating, "Yes, I would like to disagree with Murkomen, I would also disagree with the president that these children when they are full, cannot steal from your home".

A central pillar of Senator Khalwale's argument is deeply rooted in Luhya cultural traditions. He asserted that in the Luhya community, killing isn’t allowed.

Khalwale questioned the practical and moral implications of such orders, particularly concerning youth engagement with authorities. He posed a hypothetical scenario where a youth approaches a police station to report a stolen motorbike, he should be listened to instead of just being shot as per CS Murkomen’s previous orders to police about anyone approaching a police station.

He further elaborated on the potential harm of shooting a youth who comes to a police station seeking information about recruitment opportunities, asking, "If a youth comes to the station because he has heard that recruitment is imminent, he comes to make friends so that he can have a chance to be recruited. Then shoot him, how will he get a job?"

The Senator stressed the critical importance of the youth for the nation's future, declaring, "The future of this country is our youth". He advocated for nurturing and supporting young people.

President William Ruto recently issued a directive to police, instructing them to shoot individuals engaged in looting or destruction of property during protests "in the leg."

This order, given after violent anti-government demonstrations resulted in multiple deaths and widespread property damage, aims to incapacitate but not kill those involved in criminal acts. Ruto emphasized that such individuals should then be taken to hospital before facing legal proceedings, asserting that his government will not tolerate "anarchy" disguised as peaceful demonstrations.

Separately, Interior CS, Kipchumba Murkomen, has also made controversial statements regarding police use of force. Murkomen had told police to shoot individuals who are threatening them or attempting to steal guns from police stations, remarks that have since drawn significant criticism from civil society groups and human rights organizations, with some even petitioning the High Court to declare him unfit to hold public office, arguing that his comments sanction the excessive use of lethal force by law enforcement.