Murkomen raises alarm over women beating husbands in Vihiga
By Kenneth Mwenda, September 6, 2025Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has expressed concern about rising cases of gender-based violence in Vihiga County, pointing out that some men are now victims of abuse at the hands of their wives.
Speaking on Saturday, September 6, 2025, during the 37th Jukwaa la Usalama forum at the County Commissioner’s residence grounds, Murkomen said that gender violence in the region takes different forms compared to other areas.
“In some other areas, it is women who are suffering most, but here also men are suffering, because there are also women who are abusing and beating their husbands and their men,” he stated. Murkomen stressed that this is an issue society must confront openly if peace is to be restored within families and communities.
The CS linked the problem to deeper social and economic challenges. He explained that land disputes are a major cause of tension in Vihiga, a densely populated county with limited land sizes. In many families, land has been subdivided over generations until it is too small to sustain livelihoods.
“Most of these murder cases are also linked to family members. Succession disputes and the shrinking size of land continue to fuel conflict,” Murkomen said.
Youth gangs spread menace
Beyond family disputes, Murkomen also raised the alarm over youth gangs in the region.
He singled out groups such as the Reggae Boys and the Nduthi Culture, which were initially formed as social networks but are now morphing into criminal gangs.
He warned that these groups, together with others like the 42 Brothers in neighbouring counties, are spreading from towns into villages and embedding themselves in the community.
To tackle the growing insecurity, Murkomen announced that more police officers will be deployed to Vihiga and across the wider Western region. These officers will conduct operations aimed at flushing out gangs and restoring order.
He added that residents must also play their part by speaking out against both gangs and family violence. However, he acknowledged that many locals, including chiefs, avoid reporting out of fear of retaliation.