Murkomen Breaks Silence: “No Jubaland Invasion, But Kenya Won’t Tolerate Chaos”

_{FLORENCE SIMIYU.}

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has moved to quell fears of an alleged incursion into Mandera County by Jubaland forces, insisting the reports are misleading and do not reflect the situation on the ground.

Addressing residents in Busia during the launch of his Jukwaa la Usalama tour of western Kenya, Murkomen urged Kenyans to remain calm and cautioned leaders against politicising matters of national security.

The Cabinet Secretary emphasised that security agencies are under firm instructions to pursue and neutralise criminal elements in line with international law. He added that Kenya remains committed to supporting genuine refugees through humanitarian assistance, in collaboration with the Somalia government, which he noted enjoys cordial ties with Nairobi.

At the forum, Busia residents outlined a raft of security challenges facing the border town. They decried rising cases of cross-border robberies, trafficking of drugs and illicit brews, as well as harassment of Kenyan fishermen by Ugandan security officers on Lake Victoria.

The residents called on the government to strengthen bilateral ties with neighbouring states in order to curb insecurity and safeguard livelihoods that are increasingly threatened by cross-border crime.

In response, Murkomen announced that Kenya and Uganda have signed a cooperation framework to resolve fishing-related disputes on Lake Victoria. He expressed confidence that the agreement would ease tension and foster sustainable use of the shared resource.

The CS also issued a stern warning to politicians accused of sponsoring youth gangs such as the “47 Brothers” and the “Jobless Boys.” He maintained that the government will act firmly against such groups, describing them as a danger to national stability.

Murkomen underscored that the Jukwaa la Usalama forums will continue to be rolled out nationwide as part of a broader government initiative to engage communities directly and find practical solutions to emerging security concerns.