PS Omollo vows to dismantle criminal elements in Kisumu
By Viola Kosome, July 4, 2026The Principal Secretary for Interior, Raymond Omollo, has urged women in Nyando Constituency to use funds received through empowerment programmes to improve their livelihoods, while warning young people against engaging in crime and violence, especially in Kisumu County.
Speaking during a women’s empowerment event at Boya School grounds in Nyando Constituency on Saturday, July 4, 2026, Omollo expressed concern over rising cases of violence involving young people and appealed to them to reject criminal activities that have resulted in deaths, arrests and divisions within communities.
He said security agencies would soon engage youth to address the challenges but warned that those involved in criminal activities would face the law.
He also appealed to residents to cooperate with security agencies by reporting individuals involved in violence.
The PS urged parents to play a greater role in guiding their children, saying failure to instil discipline could expose them to imprisonment or death through criminal activities.
“I want young people to make my work easier. We have agreed with leaders, security agencies and the County Commissioner to create room for law enforcement agencies to deal firmly with those engaging in criminal activities so that Kisumu becomes a safer place,” he said.
Message to women
At the same time, he said women play a critical role in the country’s development and should use financial support to strengthen their businesses and improve the welfare of their families.
“I was invited by area MP Jared Okelo and I did not hesitate because Nyando women deserve the same opportunities as women in other parts of the country. Women know what their children eat and what their families need, and when they are economically empowered, the entire community benefit,” he said.
The PS said women had for many years been left behind in development programmes and called on beneficiaries to ensure the funds create lasting economic impact instead of being used for short-term needs.
Omollo also defended the government’s development agenda in the region, saying leaders had agreed to work together to accelerate projects that directly benefit residents.
He cited flood mitigation as one of the government’s priorities, noting that Nyando has for years suffered repeated flooding that displaced families and destroyed property.
He said the government had already constructed 14 kilometres of dykes out of a planned 30 kilometres.
According to Omollo, the remaining sections of the dyke will be completed after additional funding was allocated to the Lake Basin Development Authority, expressing confidence that the outstanding work would be completed before the end of the year.
He further argued that continued collaboration with the national government would enable the region to benefit from more development projects, adding that the Luo community should remain actively engaged in government.
Urges youth to remain in school
Omollo also called on parents to ensure children remain in school, saying the government has invested heavily in the education sector and that no child should be left behind while learners in other parts of the country continue with their studies.
To improve access to government services, the PS said the government had gazetted several new administrative units in Kisumu County and was in the process of operationalising them through the recruitment of chiefs, assistant chiefs and other administrators.
He encouraged qualified men and women of integrity to apply for the positions, saying the additional administrative units would bring government services closer to residents and reduce the distance people travel to access essential services.
Omollo added that the expansion would also improve the issuance of national identity cards, urging all eligible Kenyans aged 18 years and above to apply for the document.
He noted that the government had removed the additional vetting requirements that previously affected applicants from border counties seeking national identity cards, saying the move would make it easier for eligible citizens to obtain the documents and access government services while improving national planning and resource allocation.
Among leaders who attended the event were Finance CS John Mbadi, Homa Bay governor Gladys Wanga, ODM leader Oburu Odinga, Nyando MP Jared Okello,Kisumu DG Mathews Owili, Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, among other leaders.