Over 30 leaders, clerics under probe for fuelling banditry in North Rift - CS Murkomen

Over 30 people, including political figures, religious leaders and groups posing as activists, are under investigation for fuelling insecurity in West Pokot, Turkana, Samburu and Baringo counties, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has revealed.

Speaking on Thursday during a town hall meeting at Mtelo Hall in Kapenguria, Murkomen said government intelligence had identified individuals and entities believed to be aiding and abetting banditry in the North Rift.

“Mimi siogopi yeyote, hata ujifiche wapi we are coming for you. We will deal with you ruthlessly,” Murkomen warned.

“Hatuwezi negotiate mambo ya banditry ambayo inachangia insecurity hapa West Pokot, serikali itaendelea kupambana ruthlessly na bandits.”

Murkomen added that the persons of interest are allegedly providing financial and logistical support to bandits.

The CS also raised concern over what he termed as disturbing cases of human cannibalism and organ trafficking in West Pokot, where more than eight bodies have been discovered with missing organs.

“Investigations are at an advanced stage after thirteen suspects were arrested last week. Six suspects have confessed to abducting and killing juveniles for purposes of organ harvesting and cannibalism after intense investigations by security agencies,” Murkomen said.

According to the Interior CS, authorities are working to establish how the crimes evaded detection.

“As the investigations go on, we will have to audit our systems to determine how this heinous act happened in a place like this and escaped all security systems and apparatus and even the public,” he said.

Police records show that eight people, three adults and five children, are still missing, with other cases suspected but not officially reported.

The cannibalism claims emerged after a report was filed on June 11 at Kapenguria Police Station by Diana Cherop, whose son, Brighton Kibet, went missing. His mutilated body was later found on July 1 in a maize plantation near a suspect’s homestead.

A postmortem confirmed the body to be Brighton’s before it was released to the family for burial.

The revelations triggered tension and protests in West Pokot, where locals and some leaders dismissed the allegations and accused the government of targeting innocent people.

Demonstrators barricaded the Kitale-Kapenguria highway, engaging police in running battles that saw the use of teargas and gunshots as officers attempted to disperse crowds.

Former West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo led a section of local leaders in rejecting Murkomen’s approach, questioning the use of force in the government’s anti-banditry campaign.

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• clerics under probe for fuelling banditry in North Rift - CS Murkomen

“Mambo ya kutumia risasi kwa wanyama sisi tunasema hapana… wawache wanyama,” Lonyangapuo told the gathering.

Murkomen, however, maintained that the government would not relent, citing progress under Operation Maliza Uhalifu. He noted that while banditry had reduced in Kerio Valley, West Pokot remained a hotspot due to persistent cattle rustling, human trafficking, illegal mining and resource conflicts.

He further ordered security agencies to crack down on illegal miners operating in Turkana and West Pokot counties despite the government halting commercial mining due to safety and licensing issues.

“Those engaging in commercial mining without proper licenses must stop. The local community is not going to get anything if it’s not managed well. We want to ensure this is a sector properly organised,” the CS said.

He explained that small-scale miners are allowed to operate but warned against commercial mining being conducted secretly at night under the protection of armed militia.