NAIROBI, Kenya – Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has urged police reforms that will see officers deployed fairly across the country, saying no one should be condemned to serve indefinitely in difficult stations.
Speaking during the Jukwaa la Usalama forum in Nairobi on Friday, Murkomen said the government was working with the Inspector General of Police to develop a clear transfer policy, setting a service period of between three and five years at any station.
“All police officers must serve the country equally. No one should be punished by being left in one challenging area forever,” he said.
The CS noted that while some officers have remained in Nairobi for more than five years—making them “part of the problems” the service is confronting—others have been stationed in hardship regions like North Eastern for up to a decade without transfer.
“We need a fair policy. If you’ve served in Nairobi for three years, you should be ready to serve in Mandera. Equally, those who have been in operational areas for eight or ten years must be moved. It is unfair to leave them there indefinitely,” Murkomen stated.
Rising crime in Nairobi
Murkomen also expressed concern over the resurgence of criminal gangs in Nairobi, warning that they continue to endanger residents’ safety.
To counter the threat, he announced new reforms including decentralised security management, more proactive community policing, and intensified patrols in crime-prone areas.
“This is a world capital, home to UN offices and many global institutions. While generally calm and vibrant, Nairobi faces unique challenges that require constant vigilance,” Murkomen said.
Partnership with Sakaja
During his Nairobi tour, the CS paid a courtesy call on Governor Johnson Sakaja at City Hall.
The two leaders discussed joint security interventions, protecting public infrastructure from vandalism, and addressing the capital’s transport headaches.
Murkomen also praised Sakaja’s Dishi na County school feeding programme, describing it as a vital initiative in keeping children in school and reducing juvenile crime.
“Such interventions not only alleviate hunger but also help curb the lure of crime among vulnerable young people,” he said.
Murkomen expressed confidence that the policy and operational changes being developed under the Jukwaa la Usalama forums would transform Nairobi’s security and improve overall service delivery.
