MERU, Kenya –After a one-week break, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Kipchumba Murkomen, resumed his security outreach initiatives with a focused visit to the Upper Eastern counties of Meru, Tharaka Nithi, and Embu.
Murkomen’s visit, which began in Meru County, is part of the ongoing Jukwaa la Usalama townhall forums, designed to engage local communities, government officials, and security personnel in candid discussions about regional security and development issues.
The day started with a security meeting between Murkomen and the Meru County Security Committee, followed by a review of the mobile ID registration exercise and the NACADA outreach campaign.
The main event of the day was the Jukwaa la Usalama townhall at Kinoru Stadium, where local leaders, security officers, business representatives, and community members gathered to voice concerns and offer solutions to county-specific security challenges.
In Meru, Murkomen addressed the persistent issue of cattle rustling, which has plagued the Meru-Isiolo border, affecting seven counties.
Although security interventions have had some success, Murkomen emphasized the need for enhanced strategies to eradicate the menace.
Another major issue raised during the forum was the long-standing boundary and land dispute along the Meru-Tharaka Nithi border, which continues to strain relations between neighboring communities.
JUKWAA LA USALAMA- UPPER EASTERN REGION TOURArrived in Meru Town for the Upper Eastern Region leg of our Jukwaa la Usalama grassroots engagements. After a security meeting with the county security team, we will proceed to a town hall meeting at the Kinoru Stadium.I’m joined
As part of his mission to address security concerns, the CS also provided updates on earlier announcements made during previous Jukwaa la Usalama forums.
These include policies to ensure no security personnel serve in operational areas for more than three months, allowing chiefs and assistant chiefs whose security is under threat to own firearms, assigning two Principal Chiefs to every sub-county, and offering retiring security officers the option to be transferred to a station of their choice.
Additionally, Murkomen highlighted that land disputes will now be referred to the National Security Council for further policy direction.
The Meru forum marks the 10th in a series of Jukwaa la Usalama townhalls, which have already brought about notable policy shifts and fostered stronger cooperation between security officers and the communities they serve.
Murkomen’s initiative has already made a significant impact in the Coast and Lower Eastern regions, and he is committed to continuing the forums throughout the country.
“We are making progress, and it is important for us to continue engaging directly with the people and the officers tasked with safeguarding them,” Murkomen said. “Through these forums, we not only address immediate concerns but also lay the groundwork for long-term security solutions.”
