Murkomen: Cattle theft along Kisumu-Kericho border contained

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen speaking to journalists in Kericho after meeting security chiefs on August 7, 2025/SCREENGRAB

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced that the security situation along the volatile Kisumu-Kericho border has significantly improved.

Murkomen said a crackdown on cattle theft, a longstanding source of inter-community violence in the region, had been contained.

Speaking to journalists after a high-level security meeting with county officials in Kericho, Murkomen said calm had largely been restored in hotspots such as Nyakach and Sondu, where frequent cattle raids had sparked violent clashes.

“Cattle theft along the Kisumu and Kericho border has largely been contained. We want to thank the public for being very supportive in the Nyakach and Sondu areas,” said the CS.

Murkomen revealed that in addition to arresting cattle thieves, law enforcement agencies had also targeted illegal butcheries where stolen livestock was being slaughtered and sold.

“It has helped to contain the problem by going to the source,” he explained.

So far, 25 individuals are facing various charges in connection with the livestock theft. The CS confirmed that some suspects are still in custody after failing to raise bail.

“The cases are in various stages. Some suspects are still being held after they failed to raise bail,” he said.

Murkomen credited the improved security to coordinated police action and enhanced community cooperation, noting that law enforcement agencies are working closely with locals to report suspicious activities and dismantle criminal networks.

Cattle rustling has long been a flashpoint for conflict along the Kisumu-Kericho border, often escalating into violent retaliatory attacks.

These tensions are rooted in a complex web of issues, including ethnic rivalries, land disputes, and competition for resources—particularly in areas where pastoral and farming communities coexist.

In some cases, attacks have involved the use of traditional weapons such as bows and arrows, leading to injuries and fatalities. Election periods have historically worsened the situation, with political rivalries fuelling community divisions.

Murkomen was in Kericho to attend a Jukwaa la Usalama forum — a community engagement platform that brings together government officials, security agencies, and citizens to discuss safety and conflict resolution strategies.