Murkomen decries trend of Vihiga wives beating up their husbands
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has expressed alarm over a rising trend of domestic violence in Vihiga County, noting that men are increasingly reporting abuse at the hands of their wives.
Speaking on Saturday, September 6, 2025, during the 37th Jukwaa la Usalama forum held at the County Commissioner’s residence grounds, Murkomen highlighted that gender-based violence in the region takes forms that are often overlooked.
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Unlike in other counties, where women are the predominant victims, he said, men in the governor Wilber Otichilo-led county are also suffering in silence.
“In some other areas, it is women who are suffering most, but here also men are suffering, because there are also women who are abusing and beating their husbands and their men,” Murkomen observed.
He urged communities to acknowledge the issue openly, insisting that tackling domestic violence is essential for restoring harmony within families and across society.
The CS linked the problem to broader social and economic pressures, particularly land scarcity. Vihiga, a densely populated county, has experienced extensive subdivision of family land over generations.
Murkomen noted that these shrinking plots often trigger disputes over inheritance, boundaries, and ownership, creating tension within households that can escalate into violence.
“Most of these murder cases are also linked to family members. Succession disputes and the shrinking size of land continue to fuel conflict,” Murkomen said.
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Gangs
In the same address, Murkomen also turned his attention to the growing threat posed by youth gangs in Vihiga County.
He warned that groups such as the Reggae Boys and the Nduthi Culture, which were originally formed to foster social connections and support youth economic activities, are increasingly taking on the characteristics of dangerous criminal outfits.
“The problem of gangs and goons is not as bad as the three other counties but it is there. We have, as you know, in this county you have some groups calling themselves Reggae boys and the other group that calls itself Nduthi culture,” Murkomen said.
“The original intention was to establish some, you know, social groupings related to the economic activities these young people are involved in. Now it is turning out to become a kind of a security threat because it’s morphing up to become gangs like the other gangs which are in the neighbouring counties,” he added.
He noted that similar groups, including the 42 Brothers, 47 Brothers, and 18 Brothers, have already spread across the wider Western region.
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Murkomen expressed concern that, unlike in other parts of Kenya where gangs mainly operate in urban centres, Western Kenya is witnessing these groups embed themselves in villages, making enforcement more challenging.
“The spread into villages makes the threat more complex because the gangs are embedding themselves in the community,” he said, stressing that security discussions must extend beyond short-term responses and focus on long-term solutions to safeguard the region.
As part of the government’s response, Murkomen announced the deployment of additional police officers to Vihiga and neighbouring counties. The officers are expected to conduct operations aimed at flushing out gangs and restoring safety to affected communities.
The CS also called on residents to be courageous and speak out against the gangs, noting that fear of retaliation has kept many, including chiefs, silent.
“You realise people, some chiefs were saying really, very few people are courageous enough to speak publicly about gangs because they fear being in courts visited and attacked,” he emphasised.
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Steve Ireri
Steve is a senior writer with over four years of experience in digital journalism. His focus is on the showbiz and human interest stories. Emails: [email protected] , [email protected]
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