Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has highlighted the crucial role citizens must play in preventing religious radicalisation, warning that depending only on police intervention leaves communities vulnerable to extremist cults.
During an interview on Citizen TV’s Monday Report, Murkomen cited the Shakahola mass starvation and the ongoing Kwa Binzaro cult deaths as evidence that early community action is vital.
“As long as we abdicate our duties as citizens, there will always be security issues,” Murkomen said.
“Security is not only the responsibility of the police. We must also do our part. You cannot leave your house unlocked and expect it to be solely the responsibility of the police.”
The CS criticized weak community networks, noting that organisations like the Kenya Alliance of Residents Association (KARA) have yet to fully use their platforms to detect and share intelligence with law enforcement.
He emphasized that in Shakahola, warning signals went unnoticed until it was too late.
“Even after Shakahola, there was a man who travelled from Siaya to Chakama Ranch with his children for months. How did no one notice?” Murkomen asked, calling for heightened alertness and swift reporting of suspicious behaviour.
He added that religious groups themselves must adopt self-monitoring practices to prevent extremist teachings from taking root.
KARA Chief Executive Officer Henry Ochieng, who joined the discussion, acknowledged that distrust between the public and police hinders effective information flow.
“There is goodwill from communities to support the police, but there is also fear that the information provided may be used against them,” Ochieng said, stressing that building confidence in law enforcement is essential for stronger cooperation.
The remarks come as police continue investigating the Kwa Binzaro killings in Kilifi County, where 34 bodies have been exhumed from shallow graves.
Inspector General Douglas Kanja confirmed that authorities have recovered 102 sets of human remains, including skulls, from the site.
Eleven people are in custody, with four identified as primary suspects. Early findings indicate that most victims were non-residents, suggesting that the cult specifically targeted outsiders.
