Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced that the government has kick-started a crackdown on all police officers and civil servants who are facilitating crime in Baringo County.
In a statement on Saturday, July 26, Murkomen said that the government will specifically target officers and civil servants who are abetting trade in illicit alcohol in the region.
In a bid to eliminate banditry and cattle rustling, Murkomen has also issued a stern warning to residents in possession of firearms, noting that they should surrender their arms before the government initiates comprehensive disarmament.
"I reiterate my earlier call to bandits to surrender their arms before we embark on a comprehensive disarmament," Murkomen said.
"We shall also be firm on police officers and civil servants who are abetting trade in illicit alcohol as we up our crackdown," he added.
On the other hand, Murkomen assured that the government is in the process of erecting more police stations and reinforcing the county's infrastructure capacity, key factors that have recurrently catalysed insecurity in the region.
According to Murkomen, reinforcing security in the region will be pivotal in promoting the socioeconomic transformation of the county, which he noted has seen significant improvement in recent months.
"Operation Maliza Uhalifu has helped to pacify the region, leading to the reopening of schools and the resumption of economic activities in many areas," the CS said.
"Overall, we shall continue enhancing service delivery to the people through the operationalisation of more administration units and the continuous improvement of police and NGAOs’ welfare," Murkomen said.
The announcement came hours after Murkomen announced a raft of changes in national security leadership, changes that he claimed would enhance security, especially in bandit-prone areas.
The CS appointed Jacob Namulen as the new Principal Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Interior alongside Beverly Opwora.
Murkomen further appointed Thomas Saka as the new Internal Ministry's Secretary, while Moses Kipkoech was appointed as the new Secretary of the National Administration.
The CS appointed Dickson Liyayi as the Secretary in charge of policy within the ministry, while Gilbert Kitiyo and Joshua Nkanatha were appointed as regional commissioners of Nairobi and Central Kenya, respectively.
