Murkomen Vows to End Banditry as Government Recovers 3,000 Illegal Guns

Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ending banditry in parts of the country affected by persistent insecurity.

Murkomen said banditry had remained a major threat in areas including the Kerio Valley, Pokot, Turkana, Samburu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Isiolo and Laikipia, disrupting the lives and livelihoods of residents.

He said the government would not relent until the affected areas were fully secured and Kenyans could live peacefully regardless of where they reside.

Murkomen spoke at Nandi Hills Stadium while presiding over a fundraising drive to purchase a bus and construct an office block for the Nandi Hills/Tinderet branch of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT).

Government recovers 3,000 illegal guns

Murkomen warned individuals still holding illegal firearms to surrender them, saying security agencies would continue with operations to recover weapons being used by criminal groups.

He said approximately 3,000 illegal firearms and 8,000 rounds of ammunition had been recovered from banditry-prone areas over the past one and a half years.

“Within a period of one and a half years, we have been able to recover about 3,000 illegal guns and 8,000 rounds of ammunition in the banditry-prone areas. We will ensure that all illegal firearms are confiscated as a measure to ensure an end to deaths of innocent Kenyans as well as livestock,” Murkomen said.

The CS directed security agencies to exercise maximum caution during operations to minimise collateral harm, while maintaining that the government would continue its efforts to dismantle criminal networks.

He said residents in some of the affected areas had already returned to farming following improvements in security.

According to Murkomen, security agencies were also working to recover stolen livestock, confiscate illegal firearms and dismantle criminal networks linked to banditry.

“We are intensifying operations in Isiolo and Samburu to recover all illegal firearms. We are tightening the nuts to make sure all civilians live in peace,” he said.

Focus shifts to illicit brews

Murkomen also directed National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) to intensify the fight against drug and substance abuse, particularly the production and sale of illicit alcohol.

He said illicit brews were having a harmful impact on young people and called for stronger cooperation between security agencies and local communities.

The CS said Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs were well positioned to identify individuals involved in producing illicit brews and could therefore help security agencies disrupt the supply networks.

He urged Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs and Nyumba Kumi structures to work closely with the police and share information on producers and sellers of illegal alcohol.

“Illicit brew is harming our youths. The content in that alcohol is so harmful to the consumers. I want to call on the community to be at the forefront in eradicating the harmful brews by giving information to relevant authorities, which can enhance eradication,” he said.

Murkomen said community cooperation was essential in identifying those involved in the illegal trade and ensuring they face the law.

Leaders attend Nandi Hills event

Among those who attended the event were Tinderet MP Julius Melly, Nandi Hills MP Benard Kitur, Nandi County Woman Representative Cynthia Muge, Members of the Nandi County Assembly, KNUT National Executive Secretary Collins Oyuu and Nandi County Commissioner Wilberforce Kilonzo.