Murkomen declares war on drug cartels, their protectors

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has issued a stern warning to rogue government officials abetting the proliferation of drugs and illicit alcohol in Trans Nzoia County and beyond, asserting that their days are numbered.

Speaking at the Jukwaa la Usalama public engagement forum in Trans Nzoia on Monday, the CS expressed concern over the alarming increase in drug smuggling and alcohol abuse, which he attributed to the collusion of certain government officials, including police officers, assistant chiefs, and NGAO officers, with powerful traders and smugglers.

“The business that is thriving here in terms of alcohol and drugs is because our government officials, our security officials, including police officers, are colluding with some of these dangerous traders,” he stated. “The smugglers and the traders and the distributors of drugs are actually having full protection of police officers. This is destroying our children, and we cannot allow it,”

To tackle the menace head-on, CS Murkomen announced that the Inspector General of Police will deploy a special team from headquarters to conduct a comprehensive sting operation targeting drug and alcohol networks in Trans Nzoia County.

Murkomen further confirmed that corrupt security officers will be dismissed and prosecuted, rather than simply transferred, which has often been the case in the past.

“We have admitted from the security that some of our officers are culpable and we will be dealing with them immediately and we are not transferring anybody,” he said “They will be receiving their dismissal letters as they go through their court processes to answer why they are facilitating smuggling of drugs and the distribution of drugs and alcohol, illicit alcohol,”

He also highlighted the existence of a powerful cartel of high-ranking individuals and wealthy businessmen behind the trade, noting their infiltration of state institutions through bribery of law enforcement and the judiciary.

“Solving this crisis demands a united front from all arms of government. We need support from the legislature and the judiciary if we are to end this menace,” he said.

Murkomen also condemned the increasing use of politically hired goons, who are contributing to insecurity at public gatherings and fuelling the drug culture through violence and criminality.

“I’ve directed the security team to collaborate with elected leaders to dismantle all hired goons. These criminal gangs, backed by politicians, have already cost lives. Even funerals are now conducted in fear,” he said.