- The CS said no stone shall be left unturned in the larger efforts by the government to reign in on goons in the country.
- "You will see the arrests in the coming weeks and this will act as a deterrent for those who want to cause mayhem," Kindiki stated.
Image: MAGATI OBEBO
The government will soon arrest those funding violent activities in the Kisii region and other parts of the country, Interior CS Kithure Kindiki announced Monday.
The CS said no stone shall be left unturned in the larger efforts by the government to reign in on goons in the country.
"You will see the arrests in the coming weeks and this will act as a deterrent for those who want to cause mayhem," Kindiki stated.
"I am happy with the level of investigations so far and we expect the arrests to be soon."
The security organs, he added, will conduct the arrests irrespective of party affiliation or persuasion.
"As security agencies, we are out to ensure every Kenyan is safe. Nobody is above the law, "the Interior CS told journalists at the Kisii Prisons during a tour of the facility ahead of its planned relocation.
He said the government was committed to ending violence across the country.
"The culture of intolerance, violence, and goonism is worrying us as security people, not just here in Kisii but in other parts of the country. We are convinced that unless we nip this problem now we destroy the infrastructure of violence that is developing which is politically instigated. These criminals will organise themselves and mutate into other criminal forms that will be difficult to control later, "he said.
Kindiki asked the political class irrespective of class to uphold the law and transact their business peacefully.
" Yes, you can disagree on ideas but nobody has a right to use violence to square it out with those with varying political stands. Nobody should force his views on any other person," Kindiki said.
Kindiki also said they have registered impressive results in the battle against the illicit brew.
Already, he said, the move has begun to bear fruits.
"This time we have decided to sustain the war on the brew and other narcotics the way we have done in other areas.
" What these substances are doing is to affect the most productive people of our society and we shall not recoil in the efforts to ensure this is dealt with," he said
In Kisii, he said more than 40,000 litres have been impounded and destroyed since the crackdown began.
"This has impacted the reduction of crime which points to a possible nexus between the proliferation of the illicit brew and crime," he said.
In other parts of the country, several premises set up outside the protocols have been closed.
At least 6,500 premises have been closed and licenses revoked, he said.
At least 12,000 more that have been acting without licenses have been closed.
On Friday alone, 14 illegal illicit brewers were closed.
Also closed are outlets selling drugs.
He said plans are underway for the relocation of the Kisii Prisons from its current site to create space for the affordable housing project.
"With the relocation, we direct the County to scout for alternative land so that this project rolls out," he said.
At least two parcels of land had been identified for the facility relocation.
"The decision to move this facility is irreversible. Very soon we will make the final determination on the new site and construction is set to start soon," Kindiki said.