Murkomen: Maliza Uhalifu operations disrupt banditry, recover over 3000 illegal guns

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen praised the government's multi-agency security operations for restoring normalcy in the Kerio Valley, which had been plagued by banditry and cattle rustling. Speaking at the 50th passing-out parade in Embakasi, Nairobi on September 18, 2026, Murkomen highlighted the success of the Operation Maliza Uhalifu campaign in reopening communities, schools, and markets.

He attributed the positive change to sustained multi-agency operations and reforms within the National Police Service. Four years ago, insecurity had severely impacted the region, driving children out of school and forcing families to rebuild their lives. However, according to Murkomen, children are now back in classrooms, and homes are being restored.

The security operations have also led to the recovery or voluntary surrender of thousands of illegal firearms and approximately 8,000 rounds of ammunition. The Interior CS linked these achievements to modernization efforts in the police service, emphasizing the role of advanced equipment in enhancing the capabilities of security officers.

In recent years, the government has intensified security operations in bandit-prone areas of the Rift Valley and northern Kenya, involving police, military, and other security agencies to recover illegal weapons and disrupt armed criminal groups. Murkomen emphasized that the institutional reforms within the Ministry of Interior and National Administration were aimed at strengthening the government's capacity to maintain peace and improve service delivery across the nation.