LODWAR, Kenya – Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced plans to review the long-standing curfews in parts of Turkana County, citing improved security in previously volatile areas.
Speaking in Lodwar on Wednesday after a closed-door regional security meeting under the ongoing Jukwaa la Usalama tour, Murkomen said relative calm had returned to Turkana South and East, making the curfew reassessment timely.
“I will be reviewing the curfew timing based on the latest security briefing to give locals more time as we continue to monitor the situation,” said Murkomen. “If conditions improve further in the next three months, we may consider lifting the orders altogether.”
Under the proposed changes, the night curfew would be adjusted to run from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.
This applies to two ongoing restrictions — the March 2025 Kakuma-Kalobeyei curfew and the February 2023 Kainuk “Maliza Uhalifu” order.
The curfews were imposed to address persistent insecurity linked to armed banditry, intercommunal conflict, and criminal activity, particularly near the Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kalobeyei settlement, and along the Kainuk–Lodwar road.
Residents and business owners have frequently decried the disruptions caused by the restrictions, saying they have hampered economic activity and movement across the county.
Murkomen also addressed a wide range of security and governance concerns, including refugee management under the Shirika Plan, reform of the National Police Reservist (NPR) programme, cross-border disputes, and ongoing efforts to eradicate banditry.
“Turkana is a large, complex county facing multifaceted security challenges,” the CS noted. “We are working closely with both national and county governments to respond to all these issues, including human-wildlife conflict and porous border control.”
He further highlighted growing concerns around mental health and substance abuse among the youth in Turkana, saying the government would strengthen community-based interventions and rehabilitation support.
The Jukwaa la Usalama initiative continues across counties to enhance public engagement on security matters and foster multi-agency cooperation in troubled regions.
