NAIROBI, Kenya – Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has attributed persistent banditry in Samburu, Isiolo and Turkana counties to marginalisation and underdevelopment, saying security operations alone cannot resolve the problem.
Appearing before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Internal Security and National Administration on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, Murkomen said illegal firearms, competition for pasture and banditry were among the factors fuelling insecurity in the region.
“In my personal opinion, I believe the cause of banditry is marginalisation. Underdevelopment is a sustaining factor to banditry,” Murkomen said.
He said the government needed to invest in roads, schools and other infrastructure in affected areas to address insecurity in the long term.
“Unless roads and schools are developed, police will continue to deal with bandits over and over and over again,” he said.
Murkomen Links Development To Reduced Banditry
Murkomen questioned why banditry was prevalent in parts of northern Kenya but had not taken root in more developed towns.
“You should ask yourself why there are no bandits in Eldoret or Kitale? It is because of development. Why does it not spill over Meru town? The problem is not you, it is underdevelopment,” he said.
The CS also disclosed that security agencies had recovered 3,221 of the 4,306 livestock reported stolen between June and September 2026.
MPs Challenge Samburu Security Operation
The committee meeting turned tense as MPs raised concerns over the killing of livestock and civilians during security operations in Samburu.
Murkomen said security officers on patrol on September 16 received information about a suspected banditry attack but were subsequently ambushed.
“Five people were fatally injured,” he said.
According to Murkomen, the police occurrence book recorded 237 cattle killed during the incident, contradicting claims by local leaders that about 700 animals had been killed.
He urged leaders to avoid statements that could inflame tensions.
“Leaders should restrain themselves against inflammatory statements,” he said.
Murkomen said the operation that followed was aimed at recovering ammunition allegedly held by bandits.
“The operation was initiated to go for the ammunition which the bandits held,” he said.
Samburu North MP Eli Letipila challenged the government’s handling of the operation, arguing that livestock are central to the community’s way of life.
“Livestock for us are sacred. Animals were innocent. Coming to spray bullets aimlessly at animals was wrong,” Letipila said.
Letipila also raised fresh concerns over insecurity in his constituency, saying an attack was underway in his village in Marti as the committee meeting took place.
“As we speak right now there’s an attack happening at my village in Marti. Is the CS aware? A Grade Six student was on Saturday gunned down while herding cows,” he said.
Buuri MP Rindikiri Mugambi, however, cautioned against focusing solely on livestock losses, saying human lives should remain the priority.
“We are hearing cows are sacred but stealing cows is also illegal. People were killed and human blood is more sacred,” Mugambi said.
Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda urged MPs to handle the matter carefully to prevent the meeting from escalating.
“Let’s leave the matter of sacredness aside. This meeting can easily go south,” she said.
Government Says No Compensation Framework
Murkomen also defended the government’s position on compensation, saying there was currently no legal framework allowing the state to compensate people whose livestock were lost during the security operation.
“From a perspective of the criminal justice system, it is not possible to compensate. There’s no legal policy to compensate those who lost their livestock,” he said.
The CS also questioned the authenticity of some images circulating on social media purporting to show large numbers of dead cattle.
“I saw pictures, which I don’t think are authentic, of dozens of cows which were killed,” Murkomen said.
He added that any police officer found to have unlawfully shot livestock would face disciplinary action.
Murkomen Calls For Security Roads Funding
Murkomen further called for the restoration of funding for security roads, saying the Interior Ministry had not received dedicated funding for the roads for about three years.
“For the last three years or so, the Ministry has not received money for security roads. The Ministry is only depending on the Ministry of Transport,” he said.
The CS also warned political leaders against turning insecurity into a political issue as Kenya heads into an election year.
“I really beg the leaders here not to politicise security. I know it is an election year,” he said.
The government has previously identified security roads, improved communication networks and the deployment of National Police Reservists among measures intended to address insecurity in Samburu and neighbouring counties.
