"Goonism Will Be Crushed Like Banditry" — Murkomen Issues Stern Warning to Political Gangs
News Updated: 24 July 2026 22:18 EAT
Photo courtesy: Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen during the Launch of Kolowa Sub-County, Kolowa, Baringo County.
The government has initiated a new phase in its peace consolidation framework along the Kerio Valley belt by launching new administrative infrastructure and decentralizing public service delivery to local citizens.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen presided over the official launch of Kolowa Sub-County in Baringo County, framing the event as a key initiative aimed at addressing decades of historical marginalization and bringing key state services closer to residents.
To strengthen law enforcement operations across the region, the government oversaw the official handover of 40 desktop computers distributed among 20 police stations across nine sub-counties.
In a concurrent move to boost administrative mobility and emergency response capacity at the grassroots level, officials distributed 81 motorcycles directly to local chiefs serving within the nine sub-counties.
The launch of Kolowa Sub-County incorporates newly operationalized local administrative structures, including two divisions, nine locations, and 25 sub-locations designed to establish permanent government administrative footprints in Baringo County.
Residents of the newly created sub-county can now access civil registration services locally, enabling them to secure essential state documentation such as national identity cards, birth certificates, and voter registration cards without long-distance travel.
The operational expansion is paired with targeted security interventions, with security agencies continuing multi-agency operations and expanding operational coverage into neighboring zones, including Samburu County, to eliminate lingering illegal arms.
Addressing local stakeholders, CS Murkomen commended Kerio Valley leaders and regional communities for their partnership with security agencies, citing voluntary surrenders of illicit firearms as crucial to stabilizing the region.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to establishing comprehensive long-term infrastructure in the Kerio Valley, including major road network upgrades, water supply projects, and irrigation systems to drive economic development.
Inter-ministerial collaboration is also underway between the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Education to complete the construction and reopening of local primary and secondary schools that were previously closed due to conflict.
The Interior Ministry issued a warning targeting illegal commercial livestock networks, stating that security operations will aggressively eliminate black-market cartels built around cattle rustling while facilitating the reopening of regulated local livestock markets.
Addressing human-wildlife conflict, government representatives assured local farmers that measures are being instituted to control problem animals like elephants, promising compensation through recorded administrative claims for verified crop damage.
The Ministry of Interior declared that the state will apply the same law enforcement measures used against banditry to eradicate organized criminal gangs, hired goons, and political violence anywhere in the country.
The delegation featured senior cabinet and state officials, including Defence CS Soipan Tuya, EAC, ASALs and Regional Development CS Beatrice Askul Moe, Culture, Arts, Heritage and Public Works PS Ummi Bashir, and Public Works PS Joel Arumonyang.
Regional political and security leadership present included Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich, Turkana Senator James Lomenen, host MP William Kamket, nine regional Members of Parliament, Deputy Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli, and Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Dr. Abdi Hassan.
Tags: Baringo County Edit Editor's Pick Editors choice Government Of Kenya Interior Ministry Kipchumba Murkomen Rigathi Gachagua Security And Development Signs Signs Media Kenya Limited Signs Tv Signsmedia Signstvkenya
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FELIX MAKONA
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