Murkomen: Banditry, stock theft significantly dropped in first quarter of 2025

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen during a past event/MINA

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced a significant decrease in cases of banditry and livestock theft in the first quarter of 2025.

According to Murkomen, the progress is mainly attributed to the relentless efforts of security agencies across the country.

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.

“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,” he stated.

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.

“These significant gains are attributed to the concerted efforts of our security officers, including the national police reservists working closely together in the fight against banditry,” Murkomen said.

At the same time, he outlined key challenges that continue to hamper the fight against banditry, including the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons and commercialisation of livestock theft.

Others are political interference and incitement, competition for water and pasture during drought, disputes over communal land boundaries, and criminals exploiting inaccessible safe havens due to poor infrastructure and mobile network coverage.

To address these challenges, he said the government is setting aside resources for infrastructure development, including schools, and providing better equipment and resources to our security officers.

This, while urging Kenyans to support the government’s security efforts.

He called for collaboration with security officers and rejection of political incitement and acts of revenge.

“I urge political leaders to stop playing politics with such important national security concerns,” Murkomen said.

“We are motivated by the gains we have made in the first quarter, and we will work hard to safeguard these gains and secure our nation for the rest of the year.”