Murkomen made the comments during a recent political address, and they were quickly circulated widely online.
While the CS did not explicitly confirm state surveillance of political leaders, his choice of words was interpreted by critics as a casual admission that the government monitors the private lives of elected officials and citizens alike.
The remarks come as Murkomen spearheads a nationwide surveillance initiative integrating CCTV systems into a central command center, raising broader questions about the scale and scope of state monitoring.
Speaking before the Senate Committee on National Security, Sifuna did not hold back. He argued that if Murkomen can confirm where any specific leader sleeps and who they sleep with, that inherently means the government is tracking movement, associations, and private conduct.
"If Murkomen can confirm where Sifuna sleeps and who he sleeps with, it means he is monitoring my movement," the Senator said.
He demanded that Inspector General Douglas Kanja provide clarity on whether opposition figures are under active surveillance.
Sifuna insisted that privacy is a constitutional right under Kenya's Bill of Rights and warned that unchecked monitoring could erode trust between leaders and security agencies, creating a chilling effect on political dissent.
Sifuna also questioned the use of force in dispersing opposition gatherings, including deployment of tear gas canisters.
He raised a pointed question: if tear gas is strictly a police tool, how do civilians acquire it without involvement from security officials? The implication, that state resources may be used against political opponents, has added another layer of urgency to his concerns.
Kenya's Constitution explicitly protects the right to privacy. Legal analysts argue that while surveillance may enhance national security, it must be clearly defined and limited by law.
Vague statements from a Cabinet Secretary, especially one overseeing a massive CCTV rollout — risk normalizing potentially unlawful monitoring.
With the 2027 election cycle approaching, opposition leaders fear surveillance could be weaponized to intimidate, discredit, or gather compromising information on rivals. Sifuna's intervention is seen as an early warning shot.
Murkomen's remarks have gone viral, splitting public opinion. Some Kenyans argue that robust surveillance is necessary to combat crime, terrorism, and corruption.
Others see it as an alarming intrusion into personal freedoms and a slippery slope toward political control.
The debate reflects deeper anxieties about the balance between state power and individual liberty in Kenya's evolving democracy.
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