CS Murkomen offers bandits scholarships, affordable housing jobs if they surrender guns

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has extended an olive branch to bandits terrorising the Northern region, urging them to surrender their firearms in exchange for scholarships and affordable housing jobs.

Speaking to the press during the 20th Jukwaa la Usalama town hall meeting in Elgeyo Marakwet County on Friday, Murkomen explained that banditry has severely undermined the security and stability of the region by destroying livelihoods and plunging families into poverty. 

He appealed to the bandits to surrender their weapons in exchange for leniency from the government, which would in turn offer scholarships to technical colleges to help them acquire practical skills.

Further, CS Murkomen announced that the State would provide job opportunities to construct affordable houses as a means of gaining employment and reintegrating into society. 

"We are extending an olive branch to all people with firearms and have participated in criminal activities to present themselves before police officers," he said. 

"I am ready to work with relevant agencies, surrender your gun, we'll take you to a technical college and a construction site to go and build affordable housing instead of engaging in these acts."

He warned the bandits that should they choose to engage with police officers, it would lead to numerous casualties, including loss of lives. 

"But if they continue to engage in banditry, you have no one to blame. I want to ask parents who know their children are engaging in banditry to persuade them to take the safest means," he said.

Murkomen noted that the town hall meetings provide wananchi, police officers, sub-chiefs and other stakeholders an opportunity to air their security concerns. 

The CS was flanked by IG Douglas Kanja, DIG-APS Gilbert Masengeli, GSU Commandant Ranson Lolmodooni, Governor Wisley Rotich and Deputy Governor Prof. Grace Cheserek as well as other local leaders.