Murkomen warns politicians over hired goons, rising SGBV cases
Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen has warned politicians over hiring criminal gangs and raised alarm over rising sexual and gender-based violence in Western and Nyanza, vowing decisive government action.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has warned that goons and criminal gangs hired for political gain remain a serious threat to national security, pledging that the government will act decisively against anyone involved, whether in government or the opposition.
Speaking on Tuesday when President William Ruto received the Jukwaa la Usalama report, Murkomen highlighted that resilient gangs operate across the country under names such as Wati Zedi, Gazza, 42 Brothers, Panga Boys, and Mungiki.
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“These groups are a threat to our national security, and the Inspector General of Police has been working on a strategy to make sure that we deal with this issue,” he said.
He added that their activities are further complicated by politicians who exploit these groups for their own political agendas.
“In some parts of this country, there is no funeral that happens without goons fighting from one politician to another, making life extremely difficult for chiefs, assistant chiefs, and law enforcement officers,” Murkomen said.
“With your guidance, Your Excellency (William Ruto), we want to deal with this decisively, without fear or favour, and we must hold everyone accountable because we want to save our nation.”
SGBV cases
Murkomen also raised concern over a spike in sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) cases in parts of Western and Nyanza regions, particularly in Kisumu and Migori counties, as Kenya observes the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
He described the situation as alarming, noting that many cases involve people who are supposed to protect children.
“We are recording high cases of defilement in the Western and Nyanza regions, especially in Kisumu and Migori,” Murkomen said. “What is most disturbing is that many of these cases involve people who are supposed to protect these children.”
The CS said the ongoing 16 Days of Activism should be a reminder that the fight against SGBV requires sustained and practical interventions.
“We have wife beatings, husband beatings, and all these forms of violence. We want to upscale the fight against these issues, especially during this period when the whole world is reflecting on ending gender-based violence,” said Murkomen.
The CS further called for improved welfare, training, and protection for chiefs, who serve as frontline defenders of safety in communities. He cited an incident during the Dec 1 parade where a chief fainted but insisted on returning to complete the training, highlighting their dedication.
“There was one chief who fainted during the parade. Paramedics asked him to go to the hospital, but he refused; he wanted to go back,” Murkomen said. “That chief valued that training so much that he insisted on returning.”
He also drew attention to shrinking allowances and the dangers chiefs face when confronting goons or tackling community issues such as alcoholism.
“They fight alcoholism, and sometimes they are beaten by goons as they confront the problem,” he said. “We need to improve compensation for officers injured in the line of duty.”
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