Govt to Arm Chiefs in Border, Banditry-Prone Areas: Murkomen

Nairobi, Kenya — September 24, 2025, 17:05 EAT

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has disclosed plans to arm chiefs and sub-chiefs in Kenya’s frontier and conflict-prone regions as a protective measure against threats from banditry, terrorism and inter-clan violence. The initiative will proceed through vetting, training, and licensing protocols. 

The Latest

• Addressing security concerns at a forum in Mandera County, Murkomen committed that chiefs and assistant chiefs in volatile zones will be equipped with firearms before December 2025, once training and assessments are completed. 

• He said that some chiefs in Kerio Valley have already been licensed to carry arms to defend themselves from recurring bandit attacks. 

• The CS emphasised that the process would not be indiscriminate or publicised: the issuance of guns to chiefs is to remain confidential, with security agencies handling allocations. 

• Murkomen argued that chiefs and sub-chiefs in border and unrest hotspots currently face high personal risk, and thus need protection under official sanction. 

Context in Brief

• Over the past years, many local administrators, especially in North Eastern, coastal and border counties, have been targeted in kidnappings, terror attacks, and raids—prompting calls for better protection. 

• The plan to arm chiefs follows repeated appeals by these grassroots officers during security forums, who argued that they are vulnerable and often operating in insecure terrain. 

• Nationally, the move is part of a broader push to strengthen internal security partnerships, including equipping and incentivising more National Police Reservists in volatile counties. 

Law, Policy & Process

• Licensing & oversight: Any armament must follow Kenya’s firearm regulations, including applications through the Firearms Licensing Board, background checks, training, and accountability structures.

• Scope & limitations: The scheme is intended for high-risk areas, not blanket across all chiefs; only those who satisfy security criteria will qualify. 

• Coordinated implementation: Murkomen has instructed Inspector General Douglas Kanja to collaborate with regional and county security units to identify qualifying chiefs and manage deployment. 

Risks, Implications & Scenarios

• Potential misuse: The presence of more armed non-police officials could raise risks of misuse, inter-community tension, or escalation in localized violence if not properly regulated.

• Tensions with communities: Some residents or local authorities may resist or question the legitimacy of chiefs bearing arms.

• Accountability challenges: Ensuring transparency in who is armed, how firearms are used, and preventing diversion into illegal channels will be critical.

• Precedent effects: If successful, the scheme may set expectations in other insecure areas, increasing pressure for further extension or similar measures elsewhere.

What We Don’t Know Yet

• The exact number of chiefs/sub-chiefs slated to receive arms.

• Detailed criteria for selection (e.g. threat assessment, district ranking).

• What training curriculum and follow-up monitoring arrangements will be in place.

• The budgetary costs and supply chain for the firearms and associated equipment.

• How communities in the affected areas are reacting or will respond.