Gov’t probing over 30 political, religious leaders behind banditry in West Pokot - Citizen Digital

Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen during an engagement in West Pokot County on July 17, 2025. PHOTO | COURTESY | MINA

Political and religious leaders are top on the list of individuals and entities being investigated by the government for aiding and abetting banditry in West Pokot County.

The revelations by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen was met with hostilities as locals and leaders reacted angrily, vowing to resist any attempt to implicate them in the vice.

Murkomen also raised alarm over the increasing incidences of human cannibalism and organ trafficking in West Pokot, that has seen more than 8 bodies discovered with missing parts.

A section of leaders from the county led by former Governor John Lonyangapuo publicly differed with CS Murkomen on how security agencies should deal with cases of banditry along the volatile West Pokot – Turkana- Samburu border, with the locals jeering the minister over his threats to deal with financiers.

“Mambo ya kutumia risasi kwa wanyama sisi tunasema hapana…wawache wanyama,” said Lonyangapuo.

Murkomen stated: “Hatuwezi negotiate mambo ya banditry ambayo inachangia insecurity hapa West Pokot, serikali itaendelea kupambana ruthlessly na bandits.”

He announced that the government has more than 30 persons of interests in the entire North Rift Region including political and religious leaders, as well as entities disguising as activists, believed to be aiding and abetting banditry in West Pokot, Samburu, Turkana and Baringo counties.

“Mimi siogopi yeyote, hata ujifiche wapi we are coming for you. We will deal with you ruthlessly,” said the Interior CS.