MOMBASA, Kenya- It will not be business as usual for drug peddlers and criminal gangs at the coast, as the government intensifies its crackdown, Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen.
The CS noted that the countrywide operation builds on the gains made to dismantle the remaining networks while renewing focus on the rehabilitation and reintegration of reformed offenders.
Speaking in Mombasa County after a consultative meeting with more than 30 elected leaders from the six Coastal counties, the CS commended regional security teams for significantly containing criminal gangs that had for years terrorised residents.
“I am happy to note that we have made great progress in containing criminal gangs in the Coast region. I commend the regional security teams for the commendable work they have done,” Murkomen said.
However, the CS also expressed concern over the sporadic regeneration of criminal gangs, largely driven by youth unemployment and social vulnerabilities.
He said the government, in collaboration with local leaders, has agreed on measures aimed at engaging young people and enrolling them in technical and vocational training institutions to offer alternative livelihoods.
“We continue to witness the regeneration of these gangs. Together with leaders here, we have agreed on several interventions to engage the youth and enroll them into technical training so they can live a better life,” he added.
The CS further observed that the prevalence of drug and substance abuse in the region has contributed significantly to the resurgence of criminal gangs, announcing tough measures to dismantle the drug networks.
“We have agreed with leaders that we are going after the main traffickers and suppliers of these drugs. Their properties will be seized, and the proceeds used to support rehabilitation efforts,” he said.
The CS, cognisant of President William Ruto’s calls for collaboration with counties to provide land for the construction of rehabilitation centres, lauded the Coastal region for taking a lead.
Also, to enhance service delivery and bring government services closer to the people, the CS announced that several administrative units in the region will be operationalised in the coming days.
“We are operationalising two sub-counties immediately, while the remaining units will be rolled out based on the principle of equity, subject to available budgetary resources,” he said.
He further disclosed that all sub-counties in the region will have civil registration offices to improve access to registry services.
Additionally, the government will soon roll out mass national identity card registration drives targeting unregistered adults in the region.
“There are over 500,000 adults in the Coastal region who do not have national identity cards. We will deploy live capture machines and work closely with leaders to ensure all eligible persons are registered and can access government services,” he said.
The CS was accompanied by Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir, and other senior government officials.
