Kenya’s Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen, has, on 31 July 2025, defended his Jukwa La Usalama initiatives across the country.

Murkomen has dismissed criticism as politically motivated, emphasising Jukwaa la Usalama‘s successes and the multi-agency effort showcased.

To support his statement, Murkomen has cited the 4.5 billion cyber threats reported in Kenya’s 2025 Q2 Cyber Security Report to argue that the government faces complex, multifaceted security challenges. He also highlights Laikipia engagement as evidence of commitment, noting the presence of seasoned officials with decades of experience.

“I stand by Jukwaa La Usalama as a critical platform for candid conversations that drive operational and policy changes to enhance service delivery, ensuring no compromise on security, as evidenced by the rigorous handling of terrorism cases,” Murkomen said.

Murkomen said that the Jukwaa la Usalama initiative is delivering results, as seen in Isiolo, where Operation Maliza Uhalifu has slashed inter-communal conflicts by over 60% this year, so Kalonzo and Karua’s criticism is baseless and ignores the facts on the ground.

Kalonzo and Karua’s Presser

This statement comes after Kalonzo Musyoka and Martha Karua used their press conference to criticise the government’s security strategy. Given their political rivalry with Murkomen, the presser accused the government of inefficiency or politicising security, especially with public discontent evident in X replies questioning the initiative’s impact amid ongoing violence.

“The so-called ‘Jukwaa la Usalama’ is nothing but a sham, a desperate attempt by the Ruto regime to mask its failure to secure our nation. This forum, paraded as a solution, is a mockery of the Kenyan people’s safety,” Kalonzo said.

“The government’s ‘Jukwaa la Usalama’ is a hollow exercise, a smokescreen to deflect from its gross mishandling of our security,” Karua said.

In particular, their criticism was directed at Murkomen’s visit to Nanyuki for the 23rd Jukwaa la Usalama, a grassroots security initiative that was attended by top security officials like Inspector General Douglas Kanja and local leaders, focusing on ID registration and town hall discussions, signalling a proactive stance on security amid challenges like banditry and terrorism. The initiative has reportedly reduced inter-communal conflicts in areas like Isiolo earlier this year through Operation Maliza Uhalifu.

Kalonzo and Karua called for a comprehensive review or restructuring of the Jukwaa la Usalama programme, which Murkomen highlighted in his recent X post about the 23rd engagement in Laikipia County. They argued for the initiative.

Through their presser, they also demanded the resignation or disciplinary action against senior officials, including Murkomen, for what they perceive as negligence. This targeted the Interior Ministry’s handling of banditry, terrorism, and the Laikipia engagement’s timing amid ongoing threats.