Murkomen confirms plans to give chiefs guns by December
By Kenneth Mwenda, September 22, 2025Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced that all chiefs and assistant chiefs in terror-prone areas, including Mandera County, will be armed before the end of the year.
The announcement was made on Monday, September 22, 2025, during the 44th Jukwaa la Usalama forum held at Mandera Teachers Training College.
Murkomen said the initiative aims to protect local administrators from extremist groups and other security threats.
“By December, all chiefs in need of firearm protection should be armed. Those who do not require training should be issued firearms without delay,” he said. Chiefs who are unfamiliar with firearms will undergo training before being issued weapons.
The CS noted that Mandera has experienced relative calm since the deployment of a multi-agency security team to manage cross-border threats along the Ethiopia and Somalia borders. He added that the government will continue to patrol the border and engage communities to maintain peace.
“There’s, however, no room for complacency. Our security agencies continue to patrol and monitor the border and hold regular meetings with the communities living along the border to promote peace,” Murkomen posted on X.
Mandera County is a major producer of meat and livestock products for both domestic and export markets. The economy is also supported by cross-border trade with neighbouring communities in Ethiopia and Somalia. While the county is generally calm, occasional inter-clan conflicts over grazing and watering rights have been reported. Murkomen said the government will work closely with local leaders to manage these conflicts.
Cattle rustling remains prevalent
Governor Mohamed Khalif acknowledged that while inter-tribal clashes in Mandera are minimal, cattle rustling incidents remain prevalent. Murkomen also said that the government will equip, incentivise and recruit more National Police Reservists to sustain the gains made in securing the county.
The Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, who attended the forum with Murkomen, urged local residents to work with security officers to maintain safety.
“Security is a shared responsibility. As police officers, our responsibility is to ensure you have adequate protection. However, we have to collaborate with local residents as well,” Kanja said.
During the forum, Murkomen also met with security officers in Mandera to discuss operational needs. He said that mobility for officers will be improved once a motor vehicle leasing agreement is concluded. Additionally, the government is working to improve officers’ welfare and equip them with modern technology to curb insecurity.
The decision to arm chiefs and assistant chiefs comes after several incidents in which communities faced threats from armed groups. Notably, in March 2025, militants entered Mangai village in Lamu County, gathering residents and preaching before leaving without causing harm. The government believes that providing firearms to chiefs will strengthen local security and prevent such incidents in the future.