Murkomen warns police officers colluding with illicit brew cartels
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has declared a fresh crackdown on illicit alcohol, drugs, and government officers who enable the illegal trade.
As he led a high-level security forum in Nandi County on Thursday, July 24, 2025, Murkomen said the Ministry of Interior is stepping up its nationwide efforts to rid communities of harmful substances that are destroying families and futures, particularly among the youth.
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“We are cracking down on rogue businessmen and women selling second-generation alcohol and other drugs, which are ruining our young people’s lives. I have equally put on notice police and other government officers abetting this illicit trade,” he said.
He noted that the ministry has intensified operations targeting production points, distribution networks, and retail dens of illicit liquor and narcotics. These operations are being conducted in coordination with county security teams and local leaders.
According to the CS, recent arrests and seizures have already been made in parts of Rift Valley, Central, and Eastern Kenya as part of the broader fight against the vice.
“Officers who are colluding with these cartels will be dealt with decisively,” Murkomen warned.
He added that the ministry is also strengthening community policing initiatives, deploying more intelligence officers to hotspots, and supporting public awareness campaigns on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.
Murkomen lauded Nandi County for being one of the most peaceful regions in the country and credited this to strong collaboration between residents and security officers.
“Nandi is among the most peaceful counties, thanks to the close cooperation between security agencies and members of the public,” he stated.
To build on these gains, Murkomen announced the government is opening more administrative units in the area while improving the welfare of police officers and National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs).
“To consolidate these gains, we are operationalising more administrative units in the county and improving the welfare of our NGAOs and police officers as per our ongoing reforms,” he said.
He further revealed that his ministry is collaborating closely with the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) to boost security infrastructure, including the construction of more police stations and administrative offices.
“To improve our security infrastructure, we are stepping up our collaboration with NG-CDF, even as I laud many MPs who are already helping to put up police stations and administrative offices across the country,” he added.
Murkomen was joined at the forum by Nandi Governor Stephen Sang, Members of Parliament Josses Lelmengit (Emgwen), Julius Melly (Tinderet), Marianne Kitany (Aldai), Cynthia Muge (Woman Representative), Bernard Kitur (Nandi Hills), and East African Legislative Assembly MP Zipporah Kering.
