Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen at the Holy Family Parish, Kapsowar town, Elgeyo Marakwet County, for a church service on May 4, 2025/COURTERSY
Residents along the Kerio Valley of Elgeyo Marakwet have told of Baringo North MP Makilap over his attacks on Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen over insecurity in the region.
Led by Kimaiya Minanyang and Nicholas Kirop, the residents said the government should investigate the MP's utterances, saying they amounted to incitements.
They said acts of lawlessness have hit the Kerio Valley for a long time because of lack of honesty and sincerity by leaders like Makilap.
"The government should arrest MP Makilap so as to explain what he meant when he asked his people to arm themselves. Leaders should lead the way in the search for lasting peace," said Minanyang on the phone.
They said when Murkomen took over six months ago, there has been a significant decrease in cases of banditry and livestock theft in the first quarter of 2025.
According to the CS , the progress is mainly attributed to the relentless efforts of security agencies across the country.
Minanyang noted that in a security report covering January to March 2025, the CS stated that the country recorded 167 cases of stock theft, a marked reduction from 263 cases reported during the same period last year.
"Security reports indicate that in the first quarter of 2025, a total of 4,935 livestock were stolen, compared to 8,557 livestock stolen in the same period in 2024,” stated Minanyang.
During a recent meeting, Makilap told President William Ruto to fire Murkomen, claiming he is an incompetent leader who has failed to protect the people.
He blamed him for causing problems and being disrespectful to the country.
He added that instead of solving security issues in the country, Murkomen is focusing on social media and inciting people.
"My people in Baringo North have never wronged anyone. The one causing us problems and disrespecting us now is this incompetent minister of yours. President, we ask you to fire him. He is the problem in your government," he claimed.
During his security briefs, Murkomen, however, acknowledged the human cost of the criminal activities.
He noted that 21 people, including one police officer, eight civilians, and 12 suspects, lost their lives between January and March 2025.
This is a significant drop from the 58 deaths recorded during the same period in 2024.
The residents argued that it is wrong for some leaders to blame Murkomen over banditry and cattle rustling, yet security matters are a collective responsibility where everyone of us must participate if peace has to be restored along the valley.
"Some MPs should not use the insecurity issue to raise their political profiles.
Instead of inciting innocent people into violence, they should use CDF to initiate development projects that can uplift their lives," Kirop said.
Kirop said all bandits should be dealt with in their individual capacities as they are not engaging in acts of lawlessness on behalf of their communities.
"It’s unbelievable that a few criminal elements among Pokot and Marakwet communities that speak the same language, have shared culture and and even marry from one another can turn against their brothers and sisters," said Kirop.
The residents, at the same time, accused a section of the media of pursuing a personal vendetta against the Interior CS.
