Murkomen vows to partner with churches to end banditry in Kerio Valley
By Kiprono Keileb, February 1, 2026Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has pledged to strengthen partnerships with churches in Kerio Valley to eliminate banditry and promote peace across the region.
Speaking after a church service at AIC Cheptebo Rural Development Centre in Elgeyo-Marakwet County on Sunday, February 1, 2026, Murkomen highlighted the role of the Church in supporting disarmament and rehabilitation programmes in several counties.
He commended the church for its contribution to peace efforts.
“The Church has been our valued partner in the restoration of peace in many parts of the Kerio Valley. It supported us greatly in our disarmament efforts in Baringo, Elgeyo-Marakwet, and West Pokot counties, and in the rehabilitation of reformed bandits,” part of Murkomen’s statement reads.
Murkomen visited the AIC Cheptebo Rural Development Centre, where he met with Bishop David Kipsoi and residents, praising them for their support in ongoing disarmament campaigns.
“Today, on the first day of my working tour of the Kerio Valley region, I visited AIC Cheptebo Rural Development Centre in Elgeyo-Marakwet County. I thanked the Church, led by Bishop David Kipsoi, and the residents for supporting our disarmament campaign, which has yielded peace and calm in the county and surrounding areas. We will support the Centre by strengthening its operational capacity as we continue partnering in rehabilitating reformed youth and combating alcohol abuse,” Murkomen wrote.
Engaging security officers
He outlined plans to extend his tour to West Pokot, Turkana, Laikipia, Isiolo, and Meru counties to assess security and engage with residents and security agencies on tackling remaining criminal activities.
“During my tour of the region, which will also take me to West Pokot, Turkana, Laikipia, Isiolo and Meru, I will assess the security situation and engage security agencies and residents to discuss ways of eliminating the remaining acts of banditry in these areas,” Murkomen wrote.
Murkomen expressed confidence that strategies previously used in Elgeyo-Marakwet and Baringo can be replicated to curb crime in other regions.
“We are confident that the strategic interventions we applied in Elgeyo-Marakwet and Baringo will be successfully replicated in regions where pockets of criminality remain. We will not rest until banditry is wiped out completely so that these parts of the country can enjoy development,” he concluded.