Murkomen Raises Alarm Over Rising Defilement Cases as Ruto Receives Jukwaa la Usalama Report

By Emmaculate Cheruto 

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has sounded the alarm over a concerning rise in defilement and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in parts of Western and Nyanza, calling for urgent intervention as the country marks the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

Speaking on Tuesday at State House Nairobi, where President William Ruto received the Jukwaa la Usalama report, Murkomen said recent data from county security teams paints a worrying picture, particularly in Kisumu and Migori counties.

“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 individuals who are supposed to protect these children.”

The CS stressed that the 16-day global campaign should not be treated as a ceremonial period, but as a reminder that Kenya must escalate practical actions to tackle the deep-rooted drivers of gender-based violence. He cited a surge in domestic violence, including both wife- and husband-battering, noting that the trend reflects broader gaps in community safety systems.

“We have all forms of violence happening in our homes and communities,” he said. “We want to upscale the fight against these issues, especially now when the whole world is reflecting on how to end gender-based violence.”

Murkomen also used the platform to push for improved support, welfare, and structured training for chiefs, describing them as the first line of defence in detecting and preventing crime. He said administrative officers have long asked for professional training opportunities, only now beginning to materialize.

He narrated an incident from the national administrative officers’ parade on December 1, where a chief fainted during the drill but declined to be taken to hospital by paramedics.

“That chief valued the training so much that he insisted on returning to the parade,” Murkomen said, using the incident to demonstrate what he described as the officers’ “deep commitment to service.”

The CS noted that despite their dedication, chiefs continue to face financial constraints that affect their performance. He revealed that their Authority to Incur Expenditure (AIE) allocations have reportedly been decreasing annually, leaving many officers struggling to meet operational needs.

“They told me their allocations have been reducing every year,” he told the President. “Just say one word, and their hearts will be at rest.”

Murkomen further appealed for stronger protection and adequate compensation for chiefs, many of whom encounter danger while enforcing the law in villages and estates.

“They fight alcoholism, confront criminal gangs, and sometimes they are beaten by goons,” he said. “We must improve compensation for officers injured in the line of duty.”

He added that recent incidents, including one reported in Makueni where a chief came across suspicious activities during a patrol, demonstrate the need to empower administrative officers with the tools and authority to respond effectively.

Murkomen emphasised that efforts to combat SGBV must go hand in hand with strengthening local administrative structures, saying community safety begins with a well-supported security network at the grassroots.