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Assault and sexual and gender-based violence, teenage pregnancies, illicit brews and drugs are some of the main security challenges in the Western region.

The Ministry of Interior has also identified illicit brews, land and family disputes, and child labour as other challenges.

Internal Security Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said unregulated gold mines have led to child labour especially in Kakamega and Busia counties, adding that the other challenge was sporadic criminal gangs involved in robberies with violence and burglary.

Some of the security challenges, PS Omollo said, have been attributed to the proximity of the Western region and Bungoma County to the border.

“Being a border region and transit County, Bungoma is also susceptible to smuggling and trade of contraband goods,” PS Omollo said.

Last year 2023, 40 per cent of the cross-border crimes managed at our border counties in the Western region including Bungoma were forged documents.

Drug seizures including cannabis, heroin and cocaine represented 21 per cent of the crimes while counterfeits and contrabands including sugar, maize, alcohol, ethanol and pharmaceutical drugs represented 15 per cent of confiscations made by border control authorities.

“Arrest statistics also show 12 wanted criminals were captured in the Western border within the period,” he said.

Regarding border security, the PS said Bungoma is a strategic transit along the Mombasa-Malaba highway, playing a crucial role in the region’s connectivity and economic activities.

“This highway is significant as it forms part of the Northern Corridor, which is a major transport route that connects Kenya with its landlocked neighbours like Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan. The highway facilitates the flow of goods and services, significantly impacting regional trade and local economies,” he said.

Under the Border Control and Operations Coordination Committee (BCOCC), the agencies are also enhancing collaboration to bolster efforts against cross-border crime and fortify border security.

Deter illegal entries

“Proposals for the establishment of Border Patrol Operation Bases in Lwakhakha (Bungoma), Suam (Trans Nzoia), and Busia have been put forth to strengthen surveillance and deter illegal entries through the Western region,” he said.

The PS also warned that the manufacture, sale, and consumption of illicit alcohol and narcotic drugs are existential national security threats.

“The effects of these vices have impacted negatively especially in the youth who are within the productive age thus denying their participation in socioeconomic development. Other effects include broken families, health effects, nutrition, and education,” he said.

To address this menace, he said the government was determined to suppress the supply chain for dangerous substances and ensuring strict enforcement of the relevant laws and regulations.

Traffic accidents

The government has also warned that being a transit, the Western region is vulnerable to traffic accidents and many of the road users include truck drivers and bodabodas.

“There has been a rise in the number of road accidents and explosions of fuel tankers on the Northern Corridor. Accidents have been attributed to reckless driving and overlapping,” he said.

The PS said security can be enhanced through the cooperation of the public and the teamwork of the National security organs, the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs), village elders and Nyumba Kumi clusters at the grassroot level.