The grace period is over. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Murkomen is set to face a barrage of tough questions this morning as he appears before Members of Parliament to account for the deteriorating state of national security.

The "Speaker’s Kamukunji"—an informal but high-stakes session—comes amid growing public alarm over the resurgence of criminal gangs, unexplained killings, and the palpable fear gripping parts of the country. Speaker Moses Wetang’ula directed the CS to appear at 10:00 AM, following a resolution from the recent parliamentary retreat in Nakuru where security was flagged as a crisis requiring urgent intervention.

The Charge Sheet

MPs are expected to demand answers on specific, festering issues that have eroded public confidence in the police service:

• Criminal Gangs: The return of organized criminal syndicates in urban centers and the "panga boys" phenomenon in the Coast region.
• Cybercrime Threat: With the 2027 General Election looming, lawmakers are demanding a roadmap on how the government plans to secure the country’s digital infrastructure against interference.
• Police Brutality: The session will likely address the continued allegations of excessive force, a specter that continues to haunt the service despite promised reforms.

A Test of Leadership

For Murkomen, this is a critical test of his tenure at the helm of the powerful Interior docket. His predecessor set a high bar for operational visibility, and MPs are keen to see if the current strategy matches the gravity of the threats on the ground. The cancellation of his appearance at the Naivasha retreat due to "emerging security issues" only heightened the anticipation for today's showdown.

“We are not here for lectures; we want solutions,” a senior MP from the Rift Valley was overheard saying. As the CS walks into the chambers, he carries the weight of a nation demanding safety, not just statistics. The outcome of this Kamukunji could dictate the tone of the security sector’s budget and operations for the coming financial year.