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Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has stated that police commanders will be held accountable for security breaches within their areas of jurisdiction.

Kindiki made the statement during his visit to Kitui County, where he concluded a situational review with the county security and intelligence heads and asked them to address the security challenges.

“The government will hold every commander of a security agency across Kenya individually accountable for security breaches within their jurisdictions, except where it is demonstrable that they have taken reasonable measures to avert or mitigate the breach,” the CS said in a statement posted on X.

In a bid to end insecurity in their areas, Kindiki further challenged the police to come up with an implementable roadmap.

“Every county security team is directed to adopt and implement a measurable security management plan for the maintenance of law and order, preventive security measures, effective command and control of subordinates, and timely law enforcement,” he added.

According to the CS, the resolution of disputes between farmers and herders and the resolution of disputes over administrative boundaries remain the other key deliverable areas.

The former Tharaka-Nithi senator also touched on the ongoing fight against drugs and illicit brews.

“In the ongoing nationwide law enforcement program against killer brews, narcotic drugs, and psychotropic substances, 258 suspects have been arrested and arraigned, illicit alcohol outlets closed, 15kg of bhang seized, and 22 non-compliant pharmacies and 19 non-compliant agro vets shut,” he continued.

Embu tour

He also made a tour of Embu County and vowed a sustainable fight against drugs.

“For the country to succeed in suppressing the manufacture, distribution, sale, and consumption of killer brews, narcotic drugs, and psychotropic substances, each county has to develop a long-term, sustainable plan that is suited to the local dynamics of the matter,” he promised.

Kindiki said the effort to curb the killer illicit brew and drugs is yielding fruit.

“In Embu County, the programme that began on March 7, 2024, has yielded significant results: 116 persons were arrested and prosecuted, 296 alcohol-selling premises were licensed contrary to the law, and 270 rolls of bhang were seized.

“I concluded a sitting with the county security heads and agreed on the plan for enforcement of the anti-illicit alcohol and anti-narcotics measures. Also adopted measures on reduction of crime, maintenance of law and order, monitoring and evaluation, as well as a schedule for reporting,” the former senator concluded.