Africa-Press – Kenya. The government is pursuing individuals suspected of being in illegal possession of teargas canisters and other ammunition, Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced.
Speaking in Nanyuki, Laikipia County, after a high-level security and consultative meeting with conservancies, the CS said security agencies are also investigating police officers suspected of colluding with criminals to unlawfully supply them with teargas and ammunition.
He warned that those found culpable will face the full force of the law.
“The Inspector General of Police is investigating whether some civilians have teargas canisters or whether police officers are colluding with civilians to unlawfully supply them with the equipment,” he said.
The remarks come amid several recent incidents in which political rallies were disrupted by teargas, with the National Police Service denying involvement.
Murkomen warned that criminals could access teargas canisters and other dangerous ammunition, including firearms, through fraudulent means.
“The same way criminals have firearms, we have witnessed instances where teargas has ended up in the wrong hands,” he said.
He also lauded a recently launched security operation across parts of Isiolo, Samburu, and Laikipia Counties, noting notable progress just two weeks into the crackdown.
“From the Isiolo side alone, we have recovered nearly 28 firearms, and I am pleased to report that we are also making significant recoveries of stolen livestock,” said the CS.
He maintained that the operation will continue for as long as necessary to rid the region of banditry and restore lasting peace and stability.
Condoling with the family of a teacher killed in Isiolo during an encounter with suspected bandits on Tuesday, Murkomen described the incident as part of a familiar pattern of retaliatory attacks by criminals under pressure from security operations, and vowed to intensify efforts to ensure the teacher’s death is not in vain.
“I send my sincere condolences to the family and friends of the teacher. We will stand with them during this difficult time,” he said.
“This is not a new script. In Elgeyo-Marakwet County, when we carried out a similar operation, bandits went on the rampage, targeting non-locals, including a priest. The same pattern is emerging in Isiolo County. We are going to intensify operations in Isiolo to ensure that the blood of the teacher does not go in vain,” he added.
Following a successful consultative meeting with representatives of conservancies in the region, the CS commended them for their continued support of the security operations and affirmed the government’s commitment to formalising the partnership to strengthen collaboration in restoring peace and stability.
“Our objective is to ultimately sign an MoU between the NPS and conservancies on how we can partner to carry out police operations,” he said.
Murkomen was accompanied by the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, Regional Commissioner Dr Abdi Hassan, and other senior government officials. He was joined by MPs Mwangi Kiunjuri (Laikipia East), Wachira Karani (Laikipia West), and Jane Kagiri (Woman Rep), among other leaders.
