Murkomen defends recall of Natembeya's security detail ahead of Thursday's by-elections
CS Murkomen warned that anyone found hovering around polling stations without a valid reason would be treated as a suspect.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has pushed back against claims that Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya was the only leader affected by the sudden recall of security officers, saying the move applied to several politicians as the region heads into Thursday’s by-elections.
Speaking during a tour to review security preparations in Kasipul and nearby polling areas, Murkomen said police withdrew officers after receiving information that some of them were linked to activities that could compromise the integrity of the electoral environment.
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He noted that while some leaders had chosen to take the matter quietly, others opted to speak publicly, giving the impression that the action was selective.
“The National Police Service has a report that the officers attached to them are involved in criminal activities. Some who may seem to be leaning to one side of the political divide have chosen to keep quiet and not to share publicly what the police have done, but some have decided to publicly,” he said on Wednesday. “It is not only one person whose security has been withdrawn.”
He explained that the withdrawal was intended to ensure that firearms assigned to bodyguards were not used to influence or interfere with voting.
CS Murkomen added that with the campaign period over, there was no justification for politicians to move around with armed officers.
“In any case, there is no boss tomorrow. The people are the bosses, and they are going to elect their boss, so everybody who was campaigning for a party, your job is done,” he said.
Murkomen warned that anyone found hovering around polling stations without a valid reason would be treated as a suspect.
He said the government had deployed officers to guarantee a safe space for voters and block any attempts by groups he described as troublemakers.
“Our job as a government is to ensure voters are not intimidated, and when we succeed in intimidating the goons, we are very happy. When goons complain that the government is intimidating, it is my joy,” Murkomen said.
His comments came hours after Natembeya said all officers guarding him and his Kitale home had been recalled on Tuesday night, forcing him to make his own safety arrangements.
The governor said the withdrawal was happening at a time when he had already survived threats and physical attacks while campaigning in Malava and Bungoma.
“All the security officers attached to me were recalled last night, and I was forced to have my own measures in place for safety,” Natembeya said.
He insisted that protection for elected leaders was a constitutional entitlement, not a favour from anyone, and accused unnamed individuals of using police resources to advance political interests.
“Let whoever did that know that I will not be intimidated or cowed into giving up on my stand,” said Natembeya.
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