Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has defended the conduct of the police amid the mounting pressure from Kenyans seeking answers on the spate of abductions in the country.
In an opinion piece on Tuesday, January 15, Murkomen urged the public to deeply reflect on what effective policing means to police officers across the nation.
“We find it difficult to allow the normalization of the attacks against our first line of defence simply because they are doing their job of protecting all of us from some of us who are potentially dangerous,” he wrote.
Referencing security efforts and achievements in 2024, Murkomen praised police officers for maintaining national safety.
Murkomen highlights progress made by police officers in 2024
He highlighted their success in reducing the terrorism threat level from “high” in 2023 to “medium” in 2024, as reflected in the Global Terrorism Index Impact Score.
This reduction, he says, was realized despite frequent warnings from international partners of potential attacks.
He further commended security efforts in coastal regions, particularly Lamu, where police operations have significantly curtailed terrorist activities. Murkomen stressed that the security apparatus remains vigilant across the country.
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He also acknowledged the success of police operations in restoring normalcy in the North Rift, a region previously plagued by insecurity that led to school closures and disrupted essential services.
“The return of normalcy in the North Rift has allowed children to resume school and mothers to access basic services like maternal care, as hospitals are no longer closed or inaccessible,” he noted.
Interior CS says police officers unfairly portrayed despite their commendable efforts
Murkomen further cited a 62% reduction in cattle rustling since the start of 2025, attributing it to Operation Maliza Uhalifu. He reported significant recoveries of stolen livestock in Baringo, Turkana, and Samburu due to intensified police efforts.
Despite these achievements, Murkomen criticized ongoing negative portrayals of police officers, arguing that they have been unfairly labeled as rogue, incompetent, and unaccountable by the same citizens who have benefited from their services.
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“We must acknowledge that, like you and I, our security officers are not perfect. They are human beings. Imperfection is not limited to the security sector but exists in every institution, both public and private, local and international,” he concluded.
His article came at a time the National Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja and Mohammed Amin of DCI were facing criticism over the suspected cases of enforced disappearances
Amin and Kanja were ordered to appear in court to respond to questions on the whereabouts of Kenyans reported missing.
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