The Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Interior and National Administration, Kipchumba Murkomen, has stressed that the government is committed to ending banditry in the affected areas of the country.
CS Murkomen regretted that banditry has been a threat for a long time in Kerio Valley, Pokot, Turkana, Samburu, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Isiolo, as well as Laikipia, among other areas, underscoring the government’s commitment to ensure it completely comes to an end in a bid to ensure all Kenyans live peacefully regardless of their locality.
Murkomen was speaking in Nandi Hills Stadium while presiding over a funds drive towards the purchase of a bus and construction of an office block for the Nandi Hills/Tinderet Branch of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT).
Murkomen further warned those who are yet to hand over illegal firearms, saying the government would continue mopping up the weapons.
He directed security agencies to exercise maximum caution to minimize collateral lapses during their operations, promising that the government will not relent until the affected areas are completely liberated from banditry.
“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,” divulged CS Murkomen, affirming that residents of the mentioned areas have gone back to cultivating their farms, thanks to the prevailing peace.
According to the CS, security agents are working around the clock to ensure all stolen livestock and illegal firearms are recovered as well as dismantling criminal networks as a measure to restore peace.
“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,” CS disclosed.
The Interior CS instructed the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) to scale up the fight against drug and substance abuse, underscoring its negative impact on the consumers, especially the young generation.
He stressed on the need to strengthen the enforcement efforts by security agencies including the Chiefs and Sub-chiefs who can easily identify the producers of illicit brews so as to disrupt and destabilise the supply network.
CS Murkomen called on the chiefs and sub-chiefs as well as Nyumba Kumi to work closely with the police to be able to combat illegal drugs, urging the community to collaborate with the security agents by conveying the necessary information that will ensure producers and sellers of illicit brews face the full force of the law.
“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 that can enhance eradication,” he pointed out.
Among those present at the event were Members of Parliament Julius Melly (Tinderet), Benard Kitur (Nandi Hills), Nandi County Women Representative Cynthia Muge, Members of Nandi County Assembly, KNUT National Executive Secretary Collins Oyuu and the Nandi County Commissioner, Wilberforce Kilonzo, among others.
By Ruth Mainye
