MANDERA, Kenya — Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has vowed to continue championing the plight of police officers, insisting that acknowledging their operational challenges should not be mistaken for condoning corruption.
Speaking during the 44th Jukwaa la Usalama town hall meeting in Mandera on Monday, Murkomen said police officers have a right to raise concerns about working conditions, including persistent fuel shortages that hinder their operations.
“I will continue to voice the challenges the police are going through, even as I continue to call on them to shun corruption,” the CS said. “Not every challenge is corruption. Our officers deserve to be heard rather than mocked.”
Murkomen has in recent weeks faced criticism after defending police officers accused of soliciting fuel from the public.
Last week in Homa Bay, he disclosed that the government allocates 450 litres of fuel per police vehicle each month — an amount he admitted is inadequate, particularly in urban areas where officers are frequently deployed for crime prevention.
“The reason police officers are asking for fuel is because it is the truth. By the 18th of every month, the allocation is usually depleted from trips to operation areas,” Murkomen said, adding that the government is reviewing proposals to raise the allocation to 650 litres per vehicle.
The Interior CS further revealed that his ministry is working with county governments to address other logistical concerns raised by officers.
In Mandera, for instance, he said Governor Mohamed Khalif had agreed to collaborate on tackling water shortages in security camps.
Murkomen stressed that the Jukwaa la Usalama forums, now held in counties across the country, are designed to give both police and residents a platform to raise issues that can be addressed collectively.
His remarks come at a time when police welfare remains a contentious national debate.
Officers have long complained of inadequate resources, ranging from fuel and equipment to housing and welfare allowances.
Analysts say such shortages not only expose officers to criticism from the public but also undermine the effectiveness of law enforcement.
Murkomen, who took over the Interior docket earlier this year, has repeatedly pledged to modernize the police service and improve conditions for officers, while also maintaining a hardline stance against corruption within the ranks.
