Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has commended the AIC Church for playing a critical role in rehabilitating notorious bandits in the volatile Kerio Valley, a region long plagued by deadly attacks and livestock theft.
Speaking during a church service at AIC Milimani in Nairobi on Sunday, Murkomen praised the church’s efforts in reaching out to individuals abandoning banditry.
“I’m so impressed with what the AIC Church is doing in the Kerio Valley region. During a security operation that lasted less than two months, bishops worked closely with us to reach out to those leaving banditry and getting reformed,” he said.
The CS explained that some bandits seeking to quit the vice first turned to the church for spiritual guidance before surrendering their weapons.
“Three dangerous bandits in Kerio Valley first went to AIC Chesongoch before handing over their guns. They prayed with the church, gained courage, and then surrendered their firearms,” Murkomen explained.
He also hailed the ongoing disarmament exercise, saying it has yielded unprecedented results, with more bandits laying down their arms.
Murkomen urged the church to continue partnering with the State by helping to deradicalize the youth and steer them away from banditry.
“We want the church to come in and help us in the process of deradicalization, because these are people used to the radical behavior of banditry. Let’s work together to make sure our nation is safe,” he said.
His remarks come amid an ongoing disarmament programme in Kerio Valley, where police, in a latest development, have recovered over 12 AK-47 rifles and 64 rounds of ammunition voluntarily surrendered by locals.
In a statement on Sunday, the National Police Service (NPS) confirmed steady progress in the operation across areas including Kibiriem, Talai, Kaben, Koibirir, Ketut, and Chemwonyo.
“This latest surrender is a significant boost to the ongoing disarmament efforts and a clear sign of growing community trust and cooperation in the fight to end armed crime,” the NPS said.
