Africa-Press – Kenya. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has pledged firm action against smuggling, illicit alcohol, unregulated mining, and rising cases of gender-based violence in Siaya County. He said the government will intensify a multi-agency crackdown to enhance security in the region.
Speaking during the Jukwaa La Usalama Forum in Siaya, Murkomen noted that while the county remains generally peaceful, it faces unique security challenges linked to its border location, economic activities, and social practices.
“This forum enables us to have conversations with our security managers on the ground and to address concerns from the public. It is founded on the bottom-up economic transformation agenda,” he said.
Murkomen observed that Siaya, which borders Uganda through Lake Victoria, is vibrant in farming, fishing, trade, and transport, but these opportunities have also created security concerns, including smuggling of contraband goods, illicit alcohol, and drug trafficking.
“We are working through a multi-agency approach involving the intelligence sector, the police, and administrators to tackle drugs and illicit alcohol, especially chang’aa that is widely brewed in the county,” he said.
The CS cited unregulated artisanal mining in Siaya and other parts of western Kenya as a threat to security, livelihoods, and the environment.
He called for collaboration between the Ministry of Mining, county governments, and local leaders to organise miners into cooperatives and establish proper regulation.
“Conflicts related to mining are a threat to national security. We must regulate this sector to protect the environment, lives, and ensure fair economic benefits,” he emphasised.
Murkomen also raised concerns over recurring cross-border conflicts and smuggling through Lake Victoria, noting that Kenya and Uganda have already agreed on joint measures to manage shared resources.
He announced plans to strengthen the Coast Guard Service, including setting up a base in Busia to monitor lake activities.
Murkomen cautioned against the re-emergence of youth gangs in the region, warning that some groups are sometimes drawn into political activities.
“We must deal decisively with such elements. Political competition should not put our youth at risk of criminal activities,” he said.
He further called for the regulation of boda boda operators through cooperatives and SACCOs to address security gaps in the sector.
The Interior CS expressed concern over cases of defilement and gender-based violence in the region. He directed chiefs and police officers to strictly enforce the law, stressing that such crimes should not be settled through family or traditional arrangements.
“These are heinous crimes. They cannot be solved through family arrangements or traditional negotiations,” Murkomen said.
He also acknowledged the long-standing problem of cattle theft along the Siaya–Kakamega border and announced that security operations are ongoing in collaboration with neighbouring counties.
Murkomen said national security teams will continue supporting local officers to curb stock theft permanently.
The CS commended Siaya residents for maintaining peace, reiterating that the government’s priority is to provide a secure environment that supports economic growth.
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