Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary
Kipchumba Murkomen has vowed to dismantle criminal gangs in Western Kenya.
He said a special team will be deployed to the region to
deal decisively with the gangs, their leaders and sponsors.
“The government will not allow any part of the country to be
the playground of goons. Within the next month, we need to see gang leaders
face the full force of the law,” he vowed.
Speaking in Kakamega during the 36th Jukwaa La Usalama tour
of counties, Murkomen said that whereas in other parts of the country, goons
largely operate in urban areas, in Kakamega, they are even in villages.
“The proliferation of goons in this county, including in villages,
is largely driven by the near-normalisation of drug and illicit alcohol,” said
the CS.
“Kakamega is the leading producer of chang’aa in the
country. Over the past month, we have seized 30,000 litres of the brew in this
county," the CS added.
He said the goon menace was heightened by politicians.
The Interior CS called for total cooperation of politicians and other leaders in the region in tackling the menace.
“Anybody hiring young people to disrupt meetings, including
funerals, and engage in robberies will be dealt with firmly, regardless of their
status.”
“It is unfortunate that we have to deploy up to 50 police
officers even at solemn meetings like funerals. This is unacceptable,” he said.
He also called for the collaboration of the Judiciary and
the prosecution teams so that these criminals face severe punishment.
The CS also decried the prevalence of defilement in the
region.
“We have had more than 100 reported defilement cases in a
month. This is fuelled by high alcohol and drug use as well as cultural
activities such as disco matanga. We shall work with all relevant institutions,
including the county government, to stem this menace,” he noted.
Murkomen said security measures have been put in place to
ensure the upcoming by-elections across the country are carried out peacefully and legally.
“I call on all parties to ensure their aspirants and other
actors operate within the law. Even transporters like boda boda are on our
radar. We will ensure everyone follows the law,” he noted.
He stressed that security agencies are non-partisan and will
facilitate all meetings so long as they are carried out within the law.
“What we are totally against is the deployment of goons in
political activities, and we shall deal with that firmly.”
