Murkomen breaks silence after assassination attempt against Homa Bay deputy governor
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has spoken out publicly for the first time following the attempted assassination of Homa Bay Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga, a development that has rattled the political class and sharpened the spotlight on the country’s escalating gang violence.
In a late-night television interview aired on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, Murkomen revealed that he had directed the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, to take decisive action over the worsening insecurity in Homa Bay County, which has been rocked by a series of politically linked attacks, including the recent brutal killing of Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were.
“I have told the IG that he needs to crack the problem with Homa Bay. And it is not Homa Bay alone, this question of political gangs, first of all we need to deal with the problem of political gangs,” Murkomen said.
The Interior CS painted a grim picture of a growing crisis, pointing to a pattern of violence fueled by loosely organised criminal networks tied to politicians.
He said at least five counties—Trans Nzoia, Kisumu, Migori, Nairobi, and Homa Bay—are now struggling with the same problem.
“These gangs either operate independently but most of these political goons and gangs are operating with politicians. When I came to office Mumias was a big problem you remember even what happened in a funeral there – we have done some work but a lot needs to be done. That problem is in Trans Nzoia, it is in Kisumu, it is in Homa Bay, it is in Migori, it is in Nairobi,” Murkomen stated.
He praised regional police for recent progress in the Coast region but warned of lingering threats in areas like Matungulu and Mavoko.
“Remember the Panga Boys in Coast region – when I went there to start Jukwaa La Usalama that was one of the things we really discussed the strategies how to deal with it and I am happy with the way our regional police team are working and the regional security team are doing in Coast region.
“There are also some gangs in Matungulu here in Machakos and Mavoko that when we were at Jukwaa La Usalama citizens [we had dealt with them] but the citizens have told us a bit of more information that needs to be used to deal with these issues,” he added.
Murkomen also described how seemingly benign groups of bouncers hired for political events often morph into violent criminal outfits.
“So you will find normalisation of these goons, starts normal it’s like bouncers – they are security of different politicians and slowly they mutate and become criminal gangs. While we’ve done a lot of work to dismantle these gangs, we will continue upping up our game to make sure that we keep our country safe especially as we go to next elections,” he said.
Brush with death
Homa Bay Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga’s statement to police on May 12, 2025, shed new light on a dramatic Sunday night gun battle with unidentified attackers believed to have been tracking him.
Magwanga said he was returning to his home in Kabuor village, Kasipul constituency, around 9 pm on May 10 when he received intelligence that he was being followed. He changed his route and alerted his security team, who then encountered the armed gangsters on the original path.
“The gangsters moved a few meters away and began shooting ammunition towards the vehicle, thinking that I was in the car. It forced my security officers to shoot with the intention of repulsing the gang,” Magwanga told journalists, speaking from his home alongside local politician Newton Ogada.
The attackers fled into nearby bushes after the shootout.
Magwanga has since linked the incident to an ongoing plot to assassinate him, citing both written and verbal threats received in the weeks following the death of MP Were.
“I’m surprised the attack came after receiving some threats in the last two weeks. I am now going to treat the threats with due consideration,” he said.
Police have launched an investigation, with Homa Bay police commander Lawrence Koilem confirming that security for the deputy governor would be increased.
“We’re planning to beef up the security of the deputy governor as investigations continue,” Koilem said.
Magwanga has denied rumours circulating online that he plans to resign or is facing impeachment threats from county assembly members.
“I neither have the intention to resign nor heard about plans by MCAs to impeach me. But I have no problem even if some MCAs plan to impeach me because there is no crime I have committed in the office,” he stated.
Call for unity and action
Local leaders are calling for urgent intervention to prevent another political assassination.
Newton Ogada, who accompanied Magwanga, warned against complacency, citing the fatal outcome in MP Ong’ondo Were’s case.
“We must take issues of threats very seriously. Let security agencies intervene swiftly in this matter to avoid a repeat of what happened to MP Were,” Ogada said.
He urged politicians in Homa Bay to put aside hostilities and foster peace.
“Let political leaders in Homa Bay be united and work together. Religious leaders and elders should intervene,” he added.
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