Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei on Wednesday, March 26, criticised Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen over rising insecurity, accusing him of incompetence in his role in the Cabinet.
In an outburst on X, Cherargei condemned Murkomen for his handling of the recent banditry, terrorist, and violent attacks witnessed in various parts of the country.
While accusing him of incompetence, he referenced Murkomen's tenure as Transport CS and his current role as Interior CS, citing the need for Head of Public Service Felix Koskei to intervene to help him perform his duties.
“What I saw two years ago about CS Murkomen’s incompetence can now be seen! At least incompetence in roads means that it can be fixed later, but incompetence in internal security means lives are lost that cannot be recovered!” Cherargei stated.
“No wonder HOPS (Head of Public Service) Koskei had to go and confront bandits in the North Rift over the weekend,” he added.
Cherargei further went on to credit Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who was the previous Interior CS, for containing insecurity in the volatile North-Eastern and North Rift region,s contrasting it to Murkomen’s blemished tenure.
“During Kindiki’s tenure there was a lot of containment of insecurity in the country, but Murkomen tenure now machete gangs are marauding, terrorist attacks from Turkana & North Eastern kenya and our villages are now insecure including my Kapsabet Town where a person was killed less than 200 metres from Kapsabet County Police headquarters,” he remarked.
Murkomen ascended to the Interior docket in December 2024, promising to continue the work of his predecessor, Kindiki, and ensure security within the country’s borders.
However, the former Sports CS has endured a turbulent tenure. In the North Rift, over 30 people have died in bandit attacks since the start of the year.
About 3,000 police officers and 1,500 Kenya Defence Forces soldiers are in the North Rift to fight banditry to curb the crisis seen in Samburu, Turkana and Baringo counties.
Aside from that, a wave of terror has struck the country, with suspected Al-Shabaab terrorists recently attacking a police camp in Garissa, killing six officers. This has prompted the United States to issue advisories to its citizens, warning them against travelling to or restricting movement within the region due to rising insecurity.
Additionally, administrative officers such as chiefs and National Police Reservists have been targeted, with five administrators still missing. This situation is further exacerbated by accusations that politicians and security officers have contributed to insecurity, thereby undermining efforts to restore order.
As Kenyans grapple with fears over their safety, critics of Murkomen have accused him of prioritising political matters, such as attacking leaders who oppose President William Ruto, rather than addressing the security crisis.
