Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has directed security agencies to intensify efforts against criminals vandalising key infrastructure in the Lower Eastern region.
Speaking during a security forum in the region on Saturday, April 26, 2025, Murkomen noted that while the region remains relatively calm compared to other parts of the country, the vandalism of critical assets is a pressing concern.
“We have very few issues apart from land, but one of the small problems we face is the vandalism of critical government infrastructure. That includes the expressway, highways, and electricity installations, including transformers,” Murkomen said.
The CS expressed satisfaction with the efforts already undertaken by regional and county security committees to dismantle criminal networks responsible for the theft of electrical transformers in the area.
“I’m very happy with the work that has been done already by our regional and county security committee to completely decimate the criminal gang that was stealing transformers in this county,” he stated.
However, he stressed the need for sustained action, warning that those targeting public infrastructure for scrap metal would be dealt with decisively.
“Going forward, we will continue deploying better strategies to ensure that those people who are vandalising our roads, our critical infrastructure for the purpose of scrap metal, are going to be dealt with decisively,” he warned.
Peaceful region
Despite the challenges, Murkomen noted that the Lower Eastern region, which includes Machakos, Kitui, and Makueni counties, remains largely peaceful compared to areas plagued by banditry and major security threats.
He did, however, flag Kitui County for emerging issues related to boundary disputes and occasional criminal activities along its borders.
“It is one of those regions you would be happy to live in. You don’t have very big problems to deal with, like banditry or many other problems, including serious insecurity issues. Here, they are manageable. Except in Kitui, of course, where we discussed matters of boundary issues and invasion of criminal activities by bandits in that area. That is possibly one of the small issues we are dealing with in that particular corner,” he observed.
In his closing remarks, Murkomen additionally highlighted concerns about lenient bail terms for suspects involved in serious crimes, calling for greater cooperation with the judiciary.
“We don’t want suspects of high crimes being given lenient bail terms and then being released to society to continue harassing us in the country,” he remarked.
