Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has issued concerns over the rise of security challenges in the Western region.

Murkomen who was speaking in Kakamega County during the 36th Jukwaa la Usalama tour of counties, asserted that the national platform had given the government invaluable insights into key security challenges affecting Kenyans.

He also attributed the surge in insecurity in the Western region, to gangs, alcohol and drug abuse as well as defilement.

“Our Jukwaa La Usalama tour of counties continues to give us invaluable insights into security and service delivery challenges affecting citizens and possible strategies to resolve them,” Murkomen said.

He added: “Gangs, alcohol and drug abuse, as well as defilement, are the key security challenges we are grappling with in the region.”

The Interior CS however announced that his Ministry would be deploying a special team to help deal with the challenges. He also called on the region’s vernacular media stations to practice utmost responsible reporting, by refusing to be used as channels of incitement.

“I called on leaders and the community to cooperate fully with us as we deploy a special team to support the regional security officers in dealing with these challenges. I also appealed to the media, especially vernacular stations, to report responsibly and refuse to be channels of incitement,” he asserted.

Murkomen also addressed the issue of goons, observing that they largely operate in the villages due to normalization of drugs and illicit alcohol. He warned of intensive operation to root out the menace completely.

“The government will not allow any part of the country to be the playground of goons. Within the next month, we need to see gang leaders face the full force of the law,” he vowed.

“The proliferation of goons in this county, including in villages, is largely driven by the near-normalization of drug and illicit alcohol,” said the CS.

He stated that the goon menace was heightened by politicians adding that anybody hiring young people to disrupt meetings will be dealt with firmly regardless of their status. “Nearly every politician in this county, right from MCAs, has goons. When they are not on duty at the behest of politicians, they engage in other crimes like animal theft.”