In the name of security: CS Murkomen blows taxpayers' millions on lavish forums

Questions have emerged over the effectiveness of the town hall security forums held across the country by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.

Dubbed Jukwaa la Usalama, the lavish meetings, gobbling millions of taxpayers’ money, fell short of addressing pertinent security matters in some of the regions, months after the sessions.

And the money spent is mind-boggling.

The Standard can reveal that the Jukwaa La Usalama meetings conducted across 47 counties have cost the Kenyan taxpayer a minimum of Sh15,000,000 per event.

This translates to Sh705 million spent over the past six months. Sources from the Ministry of Interior say the money is used in travel allowances for the entourage accompanying the CS, and the top police bosses, fuel and accommodation.

The money also pays for the two helicopters that the CS and his hanger-ons use, hiring of tents and chairs, catering to the mammoth crowds, and facilitation for those who attended the forums. 

The money spent freely and lavishly, sources reveal to The Sunday Standard, comes from the Confidential Vote in the Ministry of Interior. 

It is a budget allocation that is kept confidential for security reasons. This money funds sensitive security operations, intelligence gathering, and other classified activities that cannot be publicly disclosed in detail to safeguard national security interests.

Data available in the 2024/2025 budget for the entire State Department for Internal Security and National Administration, which includes the National Police and related agencies, was allocated Sh36.15 billion.

The last session of the meetings was held at the Kenya School of Government in Kabete, Nairobi, on Thursday.

And these security events have stirred debate on their actual impact and efficient use of public resources, with some questioning whether they deliver tangible security benefits or it is mainly to enhance the political profile of CS Kipchumba Murkomen.

The meeting at Kenya School of Government in Kabete featured more than 2000 people who were fed rice and beef stew for breakfast.

The Standard physically counted Deputy County Commissioners from the 18 Sub Counties, Assistant County Commissioners from the 26 divisions, Chiefs from the 68 locations, Assistant Chiefs from the 132 sub locations, OCPDs and deputy OCPDs from the 12 divisions. Also present were 24 OCS and their deputies from police stations in Nairobi.

Also in attendance was an average of 30 civilians from all the 18 Sub Counties who were ferried and paid Sh5,000 each as reimbursement for fare. 

Feedback from across the country reveals disturbing details as most of the resolutions passed and strategies laid are yet to yield.

Senator Richard Onyancha says the forums were a waste of taxpayers’ money on a selfish personal pursuit by CS Murkomen. “National security is a complex function that requires secrecy, strategic planning, and effective law enforcement actions. These cannot be done in public barazas where people are ferried in to cheer the CS.”

He adds that CS Murkomen used the opportunity to try and brand himself as a national leader, a move aimed at elevating his status as a national leader and a future political force past President Ruto’s reign.

“Murkomen is using these meetings to popularize himself and try market himself beyond his region, where he is not even as popular. And this could be a move aimed at building political capital. He is at the helm of a failed government with atrocious human rights abuses. The purpose of the meetings was to manage expectations of Kenyans after the government failed them. These are forays into opposition strongholds. The Kenya Kwanza government is already in campaign mode, years before the campaign period.”

“These are avenues to siphon money. The program is not helping in any way. The community policing group has been formed at the grassroots level, which is stronger than the provincial administration and the police service. The squad is making rounds trying to tell on anyone opposing the Kenya Kwanza administration. Therefore, the Jukwaa la jamii initiative is for a PR exercise which provides avenues to hiring halls to justify misuse of taxpayers' money,” says Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru.

George Musamali, a security analyst, says the security challenges discussed in the forums often require long-term interventions, resource deployment, and intelligence-driven operations, not just dialogue.

“Public barazas alone cannot reduce crimes like banditry or cattle raids. I’ve followed the Jukwaa la Usalama forums since they began and can confidently say that this is a PR exercise that won’t achieve much,” Musamali says.

He adds that the CS got the wrong format for participation since the forums are heavy on security officials and light on input from the public. 

“Chiefs and police are enforcers of the law, who are the recipients? The public. Are they represented?” There is little engagement with the public. Chiefs and police officers are civil servants and owe their loyalty to the government, and will try to be politically correct. You don’t expect them to take the bull by the horns and point out issues such as why community policing has failed,” he says adding “They are just playing the politics of pleasing the masses. They are spending a lot of money and achieving nothing.”

“The government has a mechanism in place to listen to mwananchi. Chiefs and their assistants and every police boss in all parts of the country usually send daily briefs to their bosses. The matters are escalated to the very top. So what Murkomen was doing with public forums is just a duplication of the role the security agencies perform,” says the security analyst, adding that public forums cannot substitute security briefs received daily by the government. 

Top security officials who accompanied CS Murkomen on the tours include Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, Deputy Inspector General of Administration Police Gilbert Masengeli, Commandant of the General Service Unit Ranson Lolmodooni, Rift Valley Regional Police Commander Jasper Ombati, and others from elite units like the Special Operations Group (SOG). 

Over 30 elite officers under the highly trained Special Operations Group  have been protecting CS Murkomen when he travels to areas considered ‘danger zones’

Averagely, two police helicopters carry the minister and police bosses. Their handlers and entourage come by car. 

The Jukwa la Usalama event usually starts with a security meeting, courtesy calls on Governors, inspections of civil and ID registration services, followed by town hall meetings where citizens raise security and welfare issues. 

Irungu Nyakera, Former Principal Secretary, shares a dim view of CS Murkomen's overtures, saying its a total waste of taxpayers payers money. 

"I view those programs as replacing policies known to us with untested models and they won't achieve much. We used to have the Nyumba Kumi initiative that has been there and is working well. Why replace the initiative in the first place? These are avenues to steal from the public coffers with no return on investment for Kenyans."

 CS Murkomen's communication team failed to respond to inquiries by The Standard about Jukwa La Usalama forums and what gains the tour yielded for Kenyans.