“I’m Not Going Anywhere”: Kenyan Cop Sparks Firestorm After Defying Dangerous Transfer Over ‘Shoot-to-Kill’ Order

Police Constable Hiram Kimathi is making national headlines after boldly refusing a controversial transfer order that many are calling an act of retaliation against his conscience and courage.  

The officer, who served at Kyumbi Police Station near Machakos Junction, has taken a defiant stand following his viral TikTok video condemning recent “shoot-to-kill” directives issued by senior Kenyan leaders. 

In a powerful statement shared on his social media, Kimathi revealed he was being relocated to Todonyang Police Station, a remote, volatile outpost on the Kenya-Ethiopia border notorious for insecurity, poor infrastructure, and isolation. 

“This is not a transfer. It is a warning shot to every officer with a conscience. Speak out against the state, and you’ll be buried in isolation,” he posted defiantly. 

A letter accompanying the transfer order instructed Kimathi to report to the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Todonyang for further directions: 

“You will proceed from Kyumbi Police Station to Todonyang Police Station and upon arrival, report to the officer commanding station for further instructions.” 

But Kimathi is standing his ground. He has publicly rejected the transfer, insisting, “I am not going anywhere.” 

His courageous defiance stems from remarks made by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on June 27, 2025, who shocked the public by endorsing lethal force against protesters: 

“We have directed the police that anyone who dares approach a police station with criminal intent, shoot them.” 

Kimathi, in his viral video, called Murkomen’s words a blatant attack on constitutional rights, accusing the state of sanctioning extrajudicial executions. He emphasized that officers are sworn to protect the Constitution, not to blindly follow orders that violate human rights. 

To make matters worse, President William Ruto appeared to echo Murkomen’s sentiments just days later. Speaking on July 9 during the launch of a police housing project at Kilimani Police Station, Ruto stated: 

“Anyone deciding to storm a person’s business or a police station should be shot in the leg. Thereafter, they can go to court and see what follows next.” 

These statements have sparked a nationwide uproar, especially as frustration grows over police brutality and government crackdowns on public dissent. Kimathi’s resistance has been hailed by many as a symbol of integrity within a force under political pressure. 

The attempted transfer to Todonyang, an area plagued by cross-border violence and poor access, has been interpreted by many as a deliberate act of punishment for Kimathi’s bravery. 

Whether his actions will ignite reform or further retaliation remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: Hiram Kimathi has forced Kenya to look in the mirror and question what kind of nation it wants to be.