Governor George Natembeya at his office in KitaleTrans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya is accusing Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen of trivialising the issue of goons being used to cause chaos at political meetings across the country.
Natembeya said it was surprising for Murkomen to claim the country had no goons problem, yet police officers were among those killed and injured during violence allegedly caused by goons in Homa Bay county during the recent Linda Mwananchi rally.
The governor said Murkomen and security chiefs were clearly unable to handle insecurity, exposing Kenyans to the risk of being terrorised by goons, especially as next year’s polls approach.
“We have our officers killed by goons armed with crude weapons, yet those in charge of security are in denial, meaning we are exposed and on our own,” said Natembeya.
The governor, who spoke in Kitale, said the country was sliding into anarchy unless the government stopped playing politics with the issue of insecurity.
Speaking in Uasin Gishu on Friday, Murkomen said those claiming the country had a goons crisis were liars, insisting that Kenya was very safe.
“Kenya is a very safe country, and those claiming we have a goons crisis are liars. What we have is a situation where a few politicians have no agenda and want to misuse our youth,” Murkomen said.
The CS advised Kenyans to avoid areas where warnings had been issued over the existence of goons.
But Natembeya dismissed the CS, terming him incompetent and incapable of handling the security docket.
Natembeya said the country was facing a worsening goons crisis, yet the CS was downplaying it.
He said as the country heads to the next elections, Kenyans must be free to exercise all their democratic rights without fear of being harassed or attacked by goons.
“It is the responsibility of the government to ensure the country is safe and that people are able to freely exercise their rights and freedoms,” Natembeya said.
The governor said despite the goons' violence allegedly targeting the opposition, they would not be intimidated or stopped from fighting for a just society.
Natembeya said it was regretful that the country was sliding back on achievements previously made in terms of democratic gains.
“As the opposition, we will not allow the Kenya Kwanza regime to return the country to the dark days. We will fight at all costs to ensure we have a just society,” Natembeya said.
He cautioned those looting the economy would eventually pay for their sins.
