Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has raised alarm over persistent land and border disputes in Kenya’s Upper Eastern Region, terming them a major threat to peace and security.
Speaking during the second day of the Jukwaa la Usalama forum for the region, Murkomen cited lack of title deeds, multiple ownership claims, and illegal land occupation as key drivers of community conflicts.
He was addressing journalists after chairing a high-level security briefing at the Tharaka Nithi County Commissioner’s office.“There are issues of land where owners do not have title deeds, there are also double and triple claims of ownership and illegal occupation,” the CS stated, adding that such disputes have fueled community fights and instability.
Murkomen pointed to the delayed implementation of the ex-PC Zachary Ogongo Taskforce report, commissioned by Parliament, as a setback in addressing complex land disputes. The taskforce was mandated to investigate land-related challenges in counties and offer lasting solutions to prevent social and economic fallout.“We will see how to navigate this matter wisely with the involvement of local communities, enforcers, and the various state agencies involved to find lasting solutions,” he said.
In addition to land-related concerns, the CS highlighted other pressing security threats including human-wildlife conflicts, drug and substance abuse, and the resurgence of illicit brews.He revealed that illegal herders have invaded wildlife parks, clashing with locals and stealing livestock.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), he said, is working with communities and has launched a crackdown to evict the herders and protect local residents.
On the issue of drugs, Murkomen expressed concern over the rising production and consumption of second-generation alcohol brewed in homesteads, calling it a “matter of grave concern.”He urged chiefs and assistant chiefs to collaborate more closely with the National Police Service to intensify crackdowns on illicit alcohol and drug dealers.“The existing security architecture should be working to fight the vice not just during national campaigns,” he emphasized.
Murkomen also pledged to work with Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome to expedite land surveys and issuance of genuine title deeds in a bid to resolve longstanding ownership disputes and restore order in the region.
The Jukwaa la Usalama initiative continues across regions as the government seeks to engage communities in tackling grassroots insecurity challenges.
