Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen says the government is working to curb abductions.
The Interior CS tells MPs a dedicated investigations unit handles abduction complaints as the government steps up security operations.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen says abduction cases have fallen sharply since Kenya Kwanza took office in 2022.
Addressing the National Assembly on November 4, Murkomen argued that the administration had done more than previous governments to curb kidnappings. He also said investigators examined every reported incident, including cases they later determined involved self-abduction.
His remarks come amid public scrutiny of abduction allegations and concerns about the handling of missing-person cases.
Murkomen outlines response to abduction cases
Murkomen pointed to the dedicated Anti-Abduction Investigations Unit as part of the government’s response to kidnappings and abductions. He said the unit handles investigations into both types of incidents.
The CS also reiterated the administration’s commitment to ending abductions and extrajudicial killings, describing it as a campaign pledge. He urged MPs to assess the security situation through facts and a balanced view of Kenya’s challenges.
In defending that record, Murkomen contrasted the current administration with its predecessor over incidents involving bodies found in rivers. He claimed Kenyans had not seen similar cases under Kenya Kwanza.
Meanwhile, he maintained that investigators took all complaints seriously, even when inquiries later pointed to self-abduction.
Election security and Moyale border tensions
Murkomen also linked the government’s wider security operations to preparations for the next elections. He said the administration was taking steps to allow Kenyans to participate safely and freely, without intimidation.
Those efforts include dismantling criminal gangs and stepping up operations against illicit alcohol, drugs and substance abuse. The CS described these as threats to public safety and young people’s wellbeing.
Turning to the Kenya-Ethiopia border, Murkomen said the government had reinforced security amid tensions around Moyale. He said those measures aimed to protect Kenya’s territorial integrity.
At the same time, the administration was engaging Ethiopia diplomatically to prevent the conflict from spilling into Kenya. Murkomen said the combined diplomatic and security efforts sought to protect communities on the Kenyan side.
