NAIROBI, Kenya – The government has pointed to underdevelopment as the primary cause of persistent insecurity in 23 marginalized counties, including Baringo, Tana River, and Turkana.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said that decades of economic neglect, rather than a lack of police presence, are fueling banditry, cattle rustling, and communal conflicts in these areas.
In a policy shift, Murkomen emphasized that the government is focusing on long-term development as a sustainable solution to insecurity, rather than relying solely on traditional security measures such as deploying more officers or building police posts.
“We are addressing the symptoms, not the causes,” Murkomen explained, noting that the lack of schools, access roads, clean water, and economic opportunities in these regions is driving the instability.
Murkomen traced the root of the problem to historical policies, referencing Sessional Paper Number 10 of 1965, which declared large parts of Kenya, including these 23 counties, as low-potential areas.
These regions, covering about 65% of Kenya’s land mass, have long been neglected in terms of development, and Murkomen argued that this marginalization is the key factor behind the ongoing insecurity.
The CS warned that without prioritizing development in these neglected areas, insecurity—manifested in banditry, cattle rustling, and pastoral conflicts—will remain a major problem for the next 50 years.
He also highlighted the lack of basic infrastructure, such as roads, which limits trade, investment, and effective security operations.
Murkomen cited the example of Tiaty in Baringo, where inaccessibility fuels not just local insecurity but also spreads to neighboring counties like Elgeyo Marakwet and Turkana.
The CS urged security agencies to adopt modern strategies that integrate infrastructure development and social upliftment.
He cited the improvement of the road from Isiolo to Moyale during President Mwai Kibaki’s administration as a successful example, noting that the once-risky route is now secure, even at night.
Murkomen’s comments come amid rising pressure over security issues in the North Rift and other regions, with the government now looking at long-term strategies to address the root causes of insecurity.
