Belgut MP Nelson Koech has issued a groveling apology for his incendiary demand that police should "shoot to kill" protesters, citing a momentary lapse in judgment.

In a rare display of political contrition, a senior legislator has publicly walked back one of the most dangerous statements made during the height of Kenya's civil unrest. Nelson Koech, a key figure in the National Assembly's Defence Committee, appeared on national television to recant his previous endorsement of extrajudicial execution, admitting that his words were reckless, unconstitutional, and deeply regrettable.

The admission, "I am totally embarrassed," marks a significant pivot for a lawmaker who had previously urged security forces to disregard the President's call for restraint. The "shoot to kill" rhetoric, which Koech originally justified as a necessary measure against property damage, had drawn widespread condemnation from human rights bodies and the international community. His reversal acts as a belated acknowledgment that the right to life is absolute, not a privilege granted by the state based on political convenience.

The Weight of Words in a Volatile Nation

Koech's apology cannot be viewed in isolation; it is a symptom of a broader reckoning within the ruling coalition. The initial remarks were not merely a slip of the tongue but a reflection of a securitized mindset that views dissent as an existential threat. By explicitly contradicting the Head of State's directive to "shoot to maim" (which itself is legally dubious) and escalating it to "shoot to kill," Koech had effectively authorized a massacre from the podium.

The timing of this apology suggests a strategic realignment. With the political temperature cooling, the hardliners are finding their past rhetoric politically expensive. Koech's claim of being a "man of polished character" is a plea for rehabilitation in the eyes of a public that has grown increasingly intolerant of impunity. However, the scars of the protests—where live ammunition was indeed used against unarmed civilians—remain fresh, making his words ring hollow to the families of the victims.

• Constitutional Reality Check: Article 26 of the Constitution of Kenya guarantees the right to life. Koech's original sentiments were a direct solicitation to violate the supreme law he swore to protect, raising questions about the suitability of such leaders holding sensitive defense portfolios.
• The "Heat of the Moment" Defense: This common political trope serves to minimize accountability. It frames calculated incitement as emotional outbursts, effectively gaslighting the public into believing that calling for death is a normal reaction to stress.

A Legacy of State Violence

This incident illuminates the dangerous disconnect between Kenya's political class and the realities of policing. When a member of the Defence Committee advocates for lethal force, it sends a chilling signal to the rank and file of the police service. It validates the trigger-happy culture that has plagued the nation for decades. Koech's retraction, while welcome, does not erase the fact that such a thought process exists within the corridors of power.

As the country moves forward, this apology must serve as a baseline for acceptable political discourse. The normalization of violence in political speech is a precursor to state collapse. Koech may be embarrassed, but the nation is traumatized. The true test of his "polished character" will not be in this televised apology, but in his future legislative actions regarding police reform and the protection of civil liberties.