Murkomen swings into action with a warning to all drug traffickers
For those who have made a living from drugs and illicit alcohol, the ground is beginning to shake.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has delivered a stern and deeply personal warning, signalling the end of business as usual for traffickers.
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Taking to his X handle on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, Murkomen said the prevalence of illicit alcohol and drugs in the country has reached alarming levels and now poses a direct threat to Kenya’s future.
He revealed that President William Ruto had directed his ministry, during the New Year address, to scale up the war against the menace urgently.
Crackdown begins
Murkomen disclosed that he had convened a high-level multi-agency meeting bringing together law enforcement and regulatory bodies to set the ball rolling on an enhanced national response.
“Today, I convened a multi-agency meeting… to set the ball rolling on an enhanced national response to the proliferation of illicit alcohol and drugs,” he stated.
According to the CS, the government resolved to immediately strengthen the Anti-Narcotics Unit by deploying additional officers, with the numbers to increase progressively to full capacity by the end of the year.
He added that a dedicated multi-agency team would begin work immediately to coordinate a nationwide crackdown.
“This operation will include the seizure of assets and property acquired from the proceeds of illicit alcohol and drug trafficking, in accordance with the law,” Murkomen warned, signalling tougher consequences for traffickers.
Borders, routes targeted
The Interior CS further announced plans to tighten security along ungazetted border points and major transit routes, areas often exploited by traffickers to move drugs and illicit ethanol into the country.
He said enhanced policing would disrupt supply chains feeding both urban and rural markets.
In addition, Murkomen said the national government would work closely with county governments to strengthen rehabilitation and recovery programmes for victims of drug and substance abuse, acknowledging that enforcement alone is not enough.
Senior officials present at the meeting included Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin, NACADA CEO Dr Anthony Omerikwa, KEBS CEO Dr Esther Ngari, and Director-General of the Assets Recovery Agency Mark Ogonji, among others.
Murkomen insisted the coordinated approach marks a turning point.
“The future of our nation is at stake,” he said, as Kenya braces for what he described as an uncompromising and sustained assault on the drug trade.
