Siaya Governor James Orengo has criticised Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen over remarks linking Kisumu to organised criminal gangs, saying the lakeside city is being unfairly mischaracterised.

Speaking during an interview on Herman Manyora’s podcast on Friday, April 24, 2026, Orengo defended the reputation of Kisumu, describing its residents as peaceful and hospitable.

“Kisumu is not a city of goonism. The people of Kisumu are welcoming and committed to lawful livelihoods,” he said.

His response follows Murkomen’s appearance before the National Assembly’s security committee, where the Interior CS raised concerns over the rise of organised gangs across Kenya. Murkomen told MPs that criminal groups have evolved into sophisticated and adaptive networks, with more than 100 gangs identified nationwide, particularly in urban centres.

Murkomen linked the groups to a wider web of criminal activity, including drug trafficking, illicit alcohol trade, extortion, and land-related crimes. He cited regions such as Machakos, Nakuru, Kakamega, Kitale and Nairobi as areas where gangs are said to be collaborating with land grabbers to invade and occupy property.

Although he did not single out Kisumu as the only hotspot, Orengo took issue with what he described as a narrative that paints the city as a centre of goonism. He said such claims risk damaging the image of a region that has long been known for its vibrant culture and economic potential.

“The incident involving Ososti was an isolated criminal act. It should not be used to stigmatise an entire population,” he said.

In a sharp rebuttal, Orengo challenged Murkomen’s assertion with a pointed comparison.

“Murkomen saying Kisumu is a centre of goonism is very unfortunate because if it is a centre of goonism, then the forces who went to Haiti should have been taken to Kisumu,” Orengo quipped.

Murkomen, however, maintained that the threat posed by gangs is real and growing. He told lawmakers that some criminal networks are sustained by political and economic interests, claiming that certain leaders interfere with law enforcement efforts.

“Whenever suspects are arrested and taken to court, politicians claim that youth are being targeted and move to bail them out,” Murkomen said, warning that such actions undermine efforts to dismantle criminal enterprises.

To address the problem, the Interior Ministry is rolling out enhanced surveillance and command systems. Murkomen said the government plans to install cameras and ICT infrastructure in police stations, integrate analytics systems, and distribute around 11,000 radio communication gadgets to officers.

He also announced plans to establish seven regional command centres in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nyeri, Meru, Nakuru, Eldoret and Kisumu, alongside a national command centre to improve coordination.

Despite these initiatives, Orengo urged the government to adopt a more balanced approach that avoids alienating communities.

“Security interventions must go hand in hand with building public trust. Labelling the entire cities negatively only creates division,” Orengo warned.

Orengo reiterated that Kisumu remains a peaceful and welcoming destination, calling on leaders to promote unity and accurate narratives.