NAIROBI, Kenya – Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has issued a stern warning to scrap metal dealers found vandalizing critical national infrastructure, vowing firm action against offenders.
Speaking on Saturday, Murkomen announced that security forces have been deployed nationwide to crack down on those targeting roads, electricity installations, and other essential facilities for scrap metal.
“Moving forward, we shall continue to roll out more robust strategies to guarantee that individuals sabotaging our roads and essential infrastructure for scrap metal are dealt with firmly,” Murkomen said during a media briefing.
The Cabinet Secretary further revealed that his Ministry is working closely with the judiciary to ensure that suspects involved in infrastructure vandalism face harsher penalties and are not granted lenient bail terms that allow them to return to criminal activities.
“We seek greater collaboration with the judiciary. We do not want suspects involved in major crimes to be granted lenient bail terms, only to return and continue terrorising society,” he said.
Murkomen also disclosed that a major criminal syndicate responsible for infrastructure theft had been dismantled in recent weeks, signaling progress in the ongoing national crackdown.
“Our critical infrastructure is being safeguarded, and I am very pleased with the progress made so far by our regional and county security teams in completely taking down the gang responsible for stealing transformers,” he noted.
The crackdown follows growing concerns about the rising cases of vandalism, which have disrupted essential services across various counties, including blackouts and road safety hazards.
Murkomen’s tough stance comes just months after the Scrap Metal Dealers Association raised concerns about the government’s restructuring plans, warning that the merger of 42 state corporations into 20 could trigger an increase in illegal activities.
Industry players have also called for clearer regulations to separate legal businesses from criminal syndicates that exploit the trade.
The Ministry of Interior has pledged to maintain pressure on rogue dealers and protect public investments in critical infrastructure.
