[PHOTOS] Murkomen celebrates Boxing Day with Embobut community

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, accompanied by his family, joined the Embobut community in Marakwet East Sub-County to celebrate Boxing Day, marking a festive season free of the security concerns that previously affected the region.

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During the visit, Murkomen commended the community for its cooperation with the government, which he said has been instrumental in restoring peace and stability in the Kerio Valley.

“Unlike in the past, residents were able to enjoy the Christmas festivities without any security concerns. This progress is thanks to the partnership between the government and the community,” he said.

The Cabinet Secretary also announced plans to establish training colleges for both the National Police Service and the Kenya Defence Forces within the area, a move aimed at enhancing security and providing local youth with education and career opportunities.

Murkomen took the opportunity to sensitise residents on environmental conservation, emphasising the importance of protecting the Embobut Forest, a key water catchment area that sustains numerous rivers in the region and beyond.

“The forest is vital not just for Marakwet, but for the entire Kerio Valley ecosystem,” he said.

Murkomen further revealed that starting next year, the government will distribute avocado, coffee, and other fruit tree seedlings to local residents.

The initiative seeks to reverse environmental degradation that contributed to the recent devastating landslide in the area, while also providing economic benefits to the community.

The Embobut community is considered a minority group in Kenya, both in terms of population size and political influence.

The Embobut Forest is located in Elgeyo Marakwet County, and the community residing there is largely indigenous to the area, often associated with the Sengwer people.

The Sengwer/Embobut community is marginalised, facing historical displacement, limited access to public services, and underrepresentation in national decision-making.

A minority is generally defined as a community that is numerically small and/or politically or economically marginalised, often struggling to preserve its cultural identity.

The Embobut/Sengwer fit this description because they are few in number, live in remote areas, and have limited political representation, yet they have distinct cultural and social practices that set them apart from the larger ethnic groups in Kenya.