Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen issued a late-night denial on Tuesday, pushing back against explosive allegations that tie him to a Ksh20 billion land dispute in Kiambu County.
The Ministry of Interior released the statement through its communication department, calling a Daily Nation report false and misleading. But the denial has done little to quiet the storm.
Questions about police deployment, political protection, and a 300-acre prime property in the upscale Runda area continue to swirl—and Kenyans are demanding answers.
What the Runda Land Row Is Really About and Why Murkomen Cannot Escape the Questions
The Runda land dispute sits at the center of a bitter, long-running family battle over one of the most valuable pieces of real estate in Kiambu County. The disputed 300-acre parcel sits in the Runda area, a prime neighbourhood bordering Nairobi, and independent valuations place it at approximately Ksh20 billion. That staggering figure alone explains why this dispute has attracted powerful names and serious scrutiny.
The Mbugua Family Allegations Paint a Disturbing Picture
The Mbugua family, who are petitioners in this case, claim that more than 200 people have illegally occupied the land. They allege that these invaders operate with the backing of powerful individuals, including politicians and security officers. According to their account, police officers from Kiambu have been compromised and have repeatedly failed to act on their formal complaints.
The family also alleges that some portions of the contested land were quietly transferred to a private company under circumstances they describe as deeply questionable. These are not minor administrative errors. They represent serious claims of coordinated land grabbing, institutional failure, and potential abuse of political power.
The Daily Nation report named Murkomen alongside Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi and Gatundu North MP Elijah Kururia. The publication alleged that all three had played a role in shielding individuals accused of invading the property. That report, published before the midnight statement, set off immediate public debate about who protects the powerful in Kenya’s land sector.
Murkomen Fires Back but His Denial Raises More Questions
Murkomen did not take the allegations quietly. His Ministry released a statement late Tuesday night insisting that he has no personal interest in the disputed land, does not know its location, and has never participated in any dealings related to its ownership. The statement used unusually strong language, saying the CS does not have “an iota of personal interest” in the property.
He also addressed the specific claim that he deployed or directed police officers in relation to the dispute. Murkomen argued that his role as Interior CS is limited to setting broad policy guidelines, which he communicates formally through the office of the Inspector General of Police. He insisted that he does not engage in operational police work, day-to-day patrols, or direct field commands.
However, his denial leaves a critical gap. The fact that police officers from Kiambu allegedly ignored complaints from the Mbugua family falls squarely within the Interior CS’s policy mandate. When rank-and-file officers allegedly look the other way in a politically charged land dispute, the question of who sets the culture of impunity inside the police service becomes unavoidable — and that question leads directly back to the Interior Ministry.
Murkomen Calls for Investigations While Defending His Own Conduct
Notably, Murkomen did not just defend himself. He also called on investigative agencies, including Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, to speed up investigations into the matter and protect the rights of legitimate landowners. That call for accountability reads as a distancing move, designed to show that he stands on the side of justice rather than land grabbers.
But critics will point out the contradiction. If Murkomen truly has no knowledge of the dispute and no connection to the property, why does his statement address the conduct of police officers in such specific terms? Why does a CS, who claims total ignorance of the matter, feel compelled to issue a midnight press release and publicly direct the Inspector General to act?
The Murkomen Runda land row now enters a more dangerous phase. Investigative agencies face pressure to act. The Mbugua family continues to fight for a property they say powerful forces are trying to take from them. And a Cabinet Secretary who issued a forceful denial at midnight now has to prove, through his actions and not just his words, that the Interior Ministry stands with ordinary Kenyans and not with those who grab their land.
The truth about the Runda land dispute will not stay buried. Kenya’s land injustices rarely do.
