Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has ordered the immediate arrest of politicians accused of sponsoring criminal activities among the youth in Kwale County and other regions.
Speaking during the second day of his Jukwaa La Usalama tour in the Coastal Region, the CS announced a heightened security operation targeting politicians allegedly holding night meetings with young people under the pretense of supporting them.
"We have intensified security operations in the county and the surrounding areas to apprehend those financing criminal activities," Murkomen said after a closed-door meeting with regional and county security teams.
He condemned the covert gatherings, stating, "We have information about politicians holding night meetings, pretending to be helping the youth. If those meetings are progressive, they should be done in broad daylight.”
According to the CS, these meetings often lead to violent incidents and other criminal acts by the youth. He assured residents that the government was taking firm action to ensure their safety.
"Action is being taken and we guarantee locals of their security. Chiefs and their assistants as well the other security agencies are under firm instructions to deal with these criminal elements and no one will be spared," he emphasized.
CS Murkomen expressed concern that many of those joining gangs like the Panga Boys are school-aged youth.
"Members of these gangs such as Panga Boys are really young people who should still be in school. Our approach in combating this menace will therefore take a multiagency way," he noted.
He further stressed the need for strong collaboration with the Judiciary to ensure justice is served.
"When these people are arrested and are released by the courts, they come back to the society thinking they are above the law," the CS said, warning that going forward, prosecutions will be more thorough to prevent repeat offenses.
Murkomen also issued a stern warning to security officers found colluding with criminals, saying they will be subjected to disciplinary action.
Outlining his mission in Kwale, Murkomen said the tour aims to assess the local security situation as part of the broader Coastal Region initiative. Accompanied by Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang, he said the visit will focus on dismantling criminal gangs, addressing school dropout rates, resolving land disputes, and strengthening border security.
Other priorities include tackling drug and substance abuse, curbing illegal mining, managing human-wildlife conflicts, and fighting human trafficking.
As part of his engagement with the community, the CS is scheduled to host a Town Hall meeting at the Kwale Cultural Centre to listen to local concerns and discuss service delivery. He will also tour the Matuga Mobile ID Registration Centre and interact with residents.
