Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen speaking at State House on Dec 2, 2025.Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has raised concern over a spike in sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) cases in parts of the Western and Nyanza regions, warning that the numbers are rising even as the country observes the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
Speaking on Tuesday when President William Ruto received the Jukwaa la Usalama report, Murkomen said the situation is alarming and called for stronger action to protect vulnerable groups.
“We are recording high cases of defilement in the Western and Nyanza regions, especially in Kisumu and Migori,” Murkomen said.
“What is most disturbing is that many of these cases involve people who are supposed to protect these children.”
The CS said the ongoing 16 Days of Activism should be a reminder that the fight against SGBV requires sustained and practical interventions.
“We have wife beatings, husband beatings, and all these forms of violence,” he added.
“We want to upscale the fight against these issues, especially during this period when the whole world is reflecting on ending gender-based violence.”
Murkomen also pushed for improved welfare and training for chiefs, calling them the frontline defenders of safety in communities.
“For many years, chiefs have been asking for training, and we kept telling them to wait,” he said. “Yesterday you saw them marching in the parade. They are waiting to hear from you on what next.”
He narrated an incident from the parade on Dec 1 to highlight their dedication.
“There was one chief who fainted during the parade. Paramedics asked him to go to the hospital, but he refused; he wanted to go back,” Murkomen said. “That chief valued that training so much that he insisted on returning.”
The CS urged the government to address the financial pressures chiefs face, saying their allowances have been shrinking.
“They told me their Authority to Incur Expenditure allocations have been reducing every year,” he told the President.
“Just say one word, and their hearts will be at rest.”
Murkomen also appealed for enhanced protection and compensation for chiefs, who often face danger when enforcing the law.
“They fight alcoholism, and sometimes they are beaten by goons as they confront the problem,” he said.
“We need to improve compensation for officers injured in the line of duty.”
He added that incidents such as the one reported in Makueni, where a chief encountered suspicious activities while working with local enforcement teams, show the urgent need to empower administrative officers to act effectively.
Murkomen said the fight against gender-based violence and the strengthening of local administrative structures must go hand in hand.
