Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has directed the National Police Service and other security agencies across the country to adopt the new e-procurement system in a bid to curb corruption in the tendering process.
Speaking during the Jukwaa La Usalama grassroots security forum in Nyamira County on Friday, Murkomen emphasized that digitizing procurement will seal loopholes exploited by cartels and enhance transparency in government contracts.
The forum, which marked the conclusion of the Nyanza regional edition of the engagements, laid bare deep-rooted security concerns in Nyamira. According to residents, land succession disputes largely fueled by population pressure on small, fragmented land holdings are behind a majority of the murder cases in the county.
“Most of the killings we are witnessing, especially targeting the elderly, are not witchcraft-related but rather disputes over inheritance disguised as the elimination of witches,” Murkomen said.
Nyamira is also grappling with other pressing issues, including rampant defilement cases and female genital mutilation, which continue to pose a challenge to security and social stability.
The CS further announced that the recruitment of 10,000 police officers next month will strengthen security operations countrywide, with more personnel deployed to hotspots affected by violent land disputes and gender-based crimes.
The Jukwaa La Usalama forums, rolled out across various counties, are part of the government’s efforts to engage communities in identifying and addressing the root causes of insecurity.