Kenya's Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has put drug cartels on notice over allegations that proceeds from illicit alcohol and narcotics are being used to finance political violence. Speaking in Nyeri County, Murkomen warned that individuals using proceeds from the illegal trade to fund goonism are firmly on the radar of security agencies. He emphasized that the government had strengthened the Anti-Narcotics Unit to tackle the issue.
Murkomen's warning comes amid heightened concern over political violence and the involvement of organised groups in criminal activities. The Interior CS recently revealed that 1,189 people had been jailed over goonism-related offences in the past four years. Of those incarcerated, 1,053 were men, while 136 were women. This, according to Murkomen, is evidence that the police are actively working to arrest and prosecute those involved in goonism.
According to Murkomen, more than 120,000 young people had been imprisoned in Kenya between 2022 and 2026 for various criminal offences. Of those, 11,824 were jailed for offences linked to gang activity, violent extremism and goonism. The sentences imposed by courts for these offences vary depending on the gravity of the offence committed. This highlights the scale of the problem that the government is trying to address.
The CS said the government was also pursuing measures to address the underlying factors driving crime among young people, including unemployment and economic vulnerability. Programmes such as the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, the Ajira Digital Programme, and employment opportunities under the Affordable Housing Programme are being implemented to tackle these issues. These initiatives aim to provide young people with alternatives to crime.
Murkomen also identified illicit alcohol and drug abuse as contributing factors to crime among young people. He stated that the government was stepping up efforts to tackle the trade. The Anti-Narcotics Unit has been strengthened, and direct crackdowns on manufacturers and suppliers of illicit drugs and alcohol are being carried out. The government has already earmarked and closed down some factories involved in the production of illicit substances.
In the past, Murkomen had revealed that the government had closed down factories and was targeting those financing goonism. He emphasized that individuals involved in the illicit trade should be aware that they are on the radar of security agencies. The government's efforts to tackle goonism and the illicit trade are ongoing, with a focus on both enforcement and addressing underlying causes.
The issue of goonism and the involvement of organised groups in criminal activities remains a concern in Kenya. The government's efforts to address the problem, including the warning to drug cartels, are part of a broader strategy to tackle crime and promote security in the country. The impact of these efforts will be closely watched in the coming months.
Key points
- The Kenyan government has strengthened the Anti-Narcotics Unit to tackle the issue of illicit drugs and alcohol.
- 1,189 people have been jailed over goonism-related offences in the past four years.
- The government is addressing underlying factors driving crime among young people, including unemployment and economic vulnerability.
