NAIROBI, Kenya — Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen held a high-level consultative meeting with elected leaders from Turkana and West Pokot counties following renewed insecurity incidents in Kainuk, a long-standing conflict-prone area along the border of the two regions.
Speaking after the meeting, held at Harambee House, Murkomen said the discussions centered on strengthening security, promoting social cohesion, and advancing socio-economic development in the region.
“While the region has largely been calm and peaceful, recent insecurity incidents in some areas need our concerted efforts,” Murkomen said in a statement.
The CS revealed that the leaders resolved to fast-track the streamlining of mining activities, which have been identified as one of the key drivers of conflict in parts of Turkana and West Pokot.
He said illegal mining operations have often drawn rival groups into disputes over resource control, exacerbating tensions and undermining peace initiatives.
“We resolved to fast-track the ongoing streamlining of mining activities, which have been identified as fuelling insecurity in the region and other parts of the country,” he said. “I have also put on notice leaders making inflammatory remarks to desist from politicising their predicament when the law catches up with them.”
Murkomen emphasized that the government’s intelligence-led security operation will continue to dismantle criminal networks and hold accountable any law enforcement officers found colluding with bandits or illegal operators.
“Our intelligence-led operation will dismantle all the criminal networks involved and bring to book any of our officers colluding with them,” he added.
In addition, the leaders agreed to enhance inter-community peace dialogues after the completion of ongoing operations, while prioritising the operationalisation of gazetted administrative units to strengthen state presence and service delivery in insecurity-prone areas.
Among those present were Senators James Lomenen (Turkana) and Julius Murgor (West Pokot), as well as MPs Rael Kasiwai (West Pokot County MP), Daniel Nanok (Turkana West), Protus Akujah (Loima), Ekwom Nabuin (Turkana North), Peter Lochokapong (Sigor), and Titus Lotee (Kacheliba).
Murkomen was accompanied by GSU Commandant Ranson Lolmodooni, Principal Administrative Secretaries Jacob Narengo (Internal Security) and Beverly Opwora (National Administration), alongside Secretary for National Administration Moses Lilan.
The meeting follows heightened concerns over sporadic attacks in Kainuk, where armed confrontations have disrupted transport and trade, despite earlier stability in the region.
Murkomen reaffirmed the government’s commitment to restoring calm and ensuring lasting peace, saying that sustainable stability in Turkana and West Pokot remains integral to Kenya’s broader national security framework.
