In a desperate bid to salvage his reputation, Belgut MP Nelson Koech has walked back his terrifying "shoot and kill" remarks, claiming they were a slip of the tongue fueled by the heat of the moment. But for the families of victims of police brutality, the apology rings hollow.

The legislator, who chairs the powerful Defence Committee, appeared on Citizen TV to scrub the blood from his rhetoric. "It is not my character," he pleaded, expressing embarrassment over the statement he made in July 2025. Back then, he had urged police to ignore the President's call for restraint and instead "shoot and kill" those he branded as criminals.

The Weight of Words

Koech’s original comments were not ambiguous. He explicitly argued that you cannot meet armed looters with anything less than lethal force. This was an endorsement of extrajudicial execution from a lawmaker sworn to protect the constitution. His retraction now suggests a man realizing that political survival requires a softer mask.

• The Biblical Defense: Koech invoked the Bible and the Constitution in his apology, a standard playbook for Kenyan politicians seeking absolution. He claimed to value the sanctity of life, a sharp pivot from his previous stance.
• The Public Verdict: The internet never forgets. While he may claim embarrassment, the video of him calling for death remains a testament to the mindset of the ruling class when their power is threatened.

A Culture of Impunity

This apology is a symptom of a larger disease. Leaders speak recklessly, incite violence, and then retreat when the political winds shift. Koech may have apologized, but the bullet once fired cannot be called back.

As Kenyans, we must ask: do we believe the polished apology on TV, or the raw, unfiltered rage of the rally? History suggests we should believe the latter.