“We Will Tackle Goons Without Fear”; CS Murkomen Pledges Action Against Goons, Lauds Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs as Frontline Heroes

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has vowed to fight goons firmly. He said this must be done without fear, favour, or discrimination. He spoke at the chiefs and assistant chiefs’ graduation at the National Police College, Embakasi ‘A’ Campus in Nairobi on Monday. Murkomen condemned recent politically instigated violence in Nairobi.

“There is a growing trend fueled by political leaders. They mobilise goons with rungus and machetes. What happened in Nairobi cannot be condoned. Those responsible will face the law,” he said. Murkomen stressed that tackling this menace must be swift and decisive.

He said chiefs face rising challenges in managing public events, including funerals, due to hired goons. “We have discussed with the Inspector General. In the next months, addressing goons will be a top priority,” he added.

Many of the graduating officers have served for decades. Some have worked over 28 years without formal training since 1997. Murkomen described chiefs as multipurpose officers. They help with farmer registration, promote health initiatives and handle community conflicts. “They are among the most trusted public servants in the country,” he said.

Since August, 5,892 chiefs and assistant chiefs have been trained. The program covered induction, paralegal skills, governance, human rights, conflict resolution, community engagement and security management. It also addressed national threats like gender-based violence, sexual offences, drug and alcohol abuse among youth and banditry and terrorism.

Murkomen praised the officers as frontline heroes. Some have been abducted or killed while performing their duties. “They are always at the front line, protecting communities,” he said. He highlighted their role in fighting GBV and their work with NACADA to curb drug and alcohol abuse.

President William Ruto presided over the ceremony. He recognised chiefs and assistant chiefs as key pillars of law and order and champions of peace. The government launched the first cohort of 1,000 officers from all 47 counties on August 15, 2025. The initiative aims to strengthen service delivery and equip officers to handle security challenges effectively.