Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has praised the prosecution and conviction of controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie and his accomplices over the Shakahola massacre, saying the government will intensify efforts to combat religious extremism and radicalisation across the country.
Murkomen commended the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the Judiciary and other security agencies involved in the investigation and prosecution of the case, describing the outcome as an important step in addressing religiously motivated crimes.
The CS, however, maintained that the government's efforts to tackle extremism would be undertaken without interfering with the constitutional right to freedom of worship.
"I want to thank the DPP and all the other agencies that worked tirelessly to secure the successful conviction of Mackenzie and his accomplices in the Shakahola Massacre," said Murkomen.
He also applauded the Judiciary for bringing the case to a conclusion, calling for closer collaboration among government institutions in addressing other security challenges, including political violence, organised criminal activities, drug trafficking and substance abuse.
Murkomen spoke during a thanksgiving church service at Bushiangala Church of God in Ikolomani, Kakamega County, where he also criticised opposition leaders over what he described as an excessive focus on tribal politics.
He challenged political leaders to shift towards issue-based politics, arguing that national political discourse should be anchored on development agendas, ideas and individual track records.
"We are past tribal politics. We must drive our politics through agendas, ideas, and track records," he said.
The Interior CS also called on leaders to support President William Ruto's re-election bid, saying political competition should be driven by development priorities rather than ethnic considerations.
On the fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse, Murkomen commended security agencies for intensifying operations across the country.
He cited a major anti-narcotics operation in Kwale County earlier in the day, which resulted in the arrest of two Tanzanian nationals and a Ugandan woman, alongside the recovery of 454 kilogrammes of suspected methamphetamine valued at approximately KSh3.6 billion.
"I applaud our security agencies. Today, they arrested Ugandan and Tanzanian nationals in Kwale with drugs worth KSh3.6 billion," he said.
The CS also dismissed concerns raised in media reports regarding the alleged politicisation of National Government Administration Officers (NGAO), defending their role in communicating government policies and coordinating development programmes at the grassroots.
He said the officers were expected to explain government policies to citizens and support the implementation of development programmes, arguing that the responsibility was not unique to the current administration.
"The work of NGAO officers is to communicate the government's agenda to Kenyans. This is not just about the current government; it applies to past governments and will continue under future administrations," he said.
Murkomen further assured residents of Ikolomani that the government would strengthen security in the area and ensure communities benefit from the region's mineral resources.
He said he had held discussions with the Mining Cabinet Secretary on measures to enhance security around mining activities and guarantee that local communities receive benefits from the exploitation of their natural resources.
"We have sat down with the Mining Cabinet Secretary, and we will ensure maximum security for everyone. We will also ensure that the local communities benefit from the resources," he assured.
The Shakahola massacre, which exposed the dangers of religious extremism and manipulation, remains one of Kenya's most significant criminal investigations, prompting renewed calls for stronger oversight of religious institutions while safeguarding freedom of worship.
Murkomen was accompanied by Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga, Ikolomani MP Bernard Shinali, Khwisero MP Christopher Aseka, Lurambi MP Titus Khamala and Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe.
Also present were Western Regional Commissioner Allan Machari, Members of County Assembly and other leaders.
