Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has admitted the government’s failure to detect and prevent the Shakahola massacre.

Speaking in Kilifi, Murkomen regretted that the Shakahola incident was an act of religious extremism and radicalisation that should have been detected earlier.

“Whether this was an act of omission or commission by our security officers between 2020 and 2021, we will get to the bottom of that and proper evidence will lead to prosecution,” promised the CS, adding  “Governments act in perpetuity and therefore it is regrettable that somebody received intelligence and failed to act on it.”

The CS also said citizens should have done their civic duty as good neighbours to raise an alarm on the activities which led to the death of over 500 people.

DNA samples

Murkomen called on families who lost their loved ones in the Shakahola massacre to provide DNA samples for identification.

According to the CS, the probe has been delayed by families that are yet to provide the samples to fast track identification so that those affected could get justice and closure.

The process, the CS said, would enable the government to establish a monument for the unidentified bodies retrieved at the shallow graves in Shakahola forest, which is part of the Chakama Ranch in Kilifi County.

“We are committed to expediting the investigations and the Government Chemist is seeking samples for DNA matching,” said the CS.

He urged, “We call for cooperation to get the right samples. Only few people are complaining of losing their people. For those not identified, we will make a memorial site. “

Addressing journalists after a security meeting in Kilifi County, the CS admitted the process had faced financial constraints, contributing it to the delays in completion of the probe.

“The resources required is a lot but we seek a one-off budget to conclude the probe in the next three to four months to designate a site for a monument,” Murkomen said.

He noted that substance abuse was a major concern in the region, adding it was a matter that needed an all-of-society approach to eradicate it.

The CS said the programme to improve police and administrators’ welfare while modernizing their work stations were well on course.

The CS revealed that as high as half of the police stations in the country and 40 percent of NGAOs, did not have vehicles, adding that the ongoing process of leasing 5000 vehicles will mitigate the acute shortage.

The process of leasing 5,000 vehicles and motorcycles, which is being handled by the National Treasury, is nearing completion, the CS said.

He explained that the planned recruitment of 10,000 police officers will ease the current shortage while improving their efficiency.

“The required rotation of officers remains a challenges, especially operational border areas, and the recruitment will help to mitigate this,” said the CS in response to concerns that some officers who have stayed in various stations could be in collusion of criminal elements.

The CS guaranteed locals of their security, saying despite the challenges highlighted, measure have been put in place the address them.

He is accompanied by PS correctional services Salome Beacco, locals MPs and MCAs and top security officials.

Earlier, the CS warned land theft collaborators that their days are numbered as those found culpable will face the full force of the law.

He decried the rampant theft of prime land through the collusion and collaboration of public officers in the ministries of Land and Interior as well as the Judiciary.

The CS said it will no longer be business as usual for those individuals involved in this vice that has led to people being dispossessed of their land and rendering many squatters while heightening incidents of insecurity in the region.

Speaking in Kilifi after a closed-door security meeting to deliberate on the situation, the CS said land disputes are a matter of concern that needs to be resolved urgently as it poses a security threat. “Political actors are under investigation for colluding with professionals, lawyers and judicial officials, and those implicated will be dealt with especially public officers from Lands and security agencies,” cautioned the CS.

Land disputes

He disclosed that elderly people are being taken advantage of and dispossessed  of prime land because of  high poverty levels and illiteracy. “Land disputes are rampant in this county and the situation is not any different in others parts of the Coast like Kwale. It has led to a squatter situation and competition for resources,” said the CS who is on his third leg of the Jukwaa la Usalama working tour of the coast region.

He continued, “We will engage the Judiciary and the National Land Commission to address these issues especially in getting title deeds to rid off land invasions.”

The CS noted that illegal transfer of land was an emotive issue in the region, as elders are dethroned by their kin, who go ahead and sell it. “I will be escalating this matter. I will have consultations with Chief Justice Martha Koome on the concerns about the conduct of judicial officials giving conflicting orders. This casts aspersions on their intentions and it’s a matter that should be discussed at the Commission on Administrative Justice,” promised the CS.

The CS is on a six-day elaborate tour of the Coast region to assess security and service delivery.  He is also engaging in consultative meetings with local leaders and the security officers to get feedback on delivery of government services and activation of mobile ID applications.

He is accompanied by the PS for Correctional Services Dr Salome Beacco.

Other leaders who accompanied him were MPs Owen Baya (Kilifi North and National

Assembly Deputy Majority Leader), Gertrude Mbeyu (Woman Rep),Amina Mnyazi (Malindi), Paul Katana (Kaloleni), Richard Chonga ( Kilifi South), Anthony Kenga (Rabai).

Others are Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha, Coast Regional Police Commander Ali Nuno, Kilifi County Commissioner Josphat Biwott, MCAs and County Government officials among others.