Trans-Nzoia County Governor George Natembeya has explained why insecurity remains a major issue in the Kerio Valley, even though Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen comes from the region.

While speaking during an interview on a local TV station on Saturday, June 7, Natembeya noted that despite government efforts, the situation in the North Rift has not been properly addressed.

“The government, although it is trying, is not getting it right in solving the security situation in the North Rift,” said Natembeya.

He pointed out that the Interior CS, despite hailing from the region, has not fully grasped the depth of the issue and the complexity of the situation in Kerio Valley.

“Even if the CS comes from that region, he still hasn’t appreciated the anonymity of the challenge,” said Natembeya.

According to the governor, resolving insecurity in the area requires relevant stakeholders to make a firm and deliberate decision to end cattle rustling and banditry, even if the perpetrators come from their own communities.

“They must decide that they want to finish the issue of cattle rustling and banditry, even if it’s being perpetrated by their own communities. That decision, according to me, is yet to be made by the relevant stakeholders tasked with restoring peace,” Natembeya stated.

He emphasised that the Interior CS, the Regional Commissioner, and any other body involved must enforce the law without favouritism.

“You have to decide, just like I decided to sort out the Mau. You have to decide that you want to sort out cattle rustling and banditry, even if it is perpetrated by your own community. Emotions should be left aside. Even if it is your brother doing the wrong thing, he is against the law. Just enforce the law,” Natembeya said.

Reflecting on his time as Rift Valley Regional Commissioner, Natembeya explained that he had tried to tackle the insecurity but was let down by a lack of support from Harambee House.

Tenure as RC

“During my tenure, I did the same in trying to solve the issue, but I never received any support from Harambee House. Despite managing to convince security officers who had decided to die but bring peace to the region, their efforts were hampered by the then-regime. Even the go-ahead, they were not given—not even allowances,” he said.

He concluded by saying that if he had the political goodwill currently available, he would have resolved the insecurity in under a month.

“And with this current political support, if I were the regional commissioner now, it could not have taken me more than a month. I could have sorted that problem. Everything could have been sorted. Because then, we lacked the support from where it matters. Even the go-ahead from Harambee House was not given. They did not even give us the allowances. They just gave us fuel,” Natembeya said.