Interior Principal Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo has issued a stern warning to criminals, vowing that the government will not relent in its crackdown on thuggery, goonism and violent crime in Kisumu, saying anyone found engaging in criminal activities will face the full force of the law.
Speaking during a Women Economic Empowerment fundraiser in Boya, Nyando Sub-county, on Saturday, Omollo said the government had already held a series of high-level security meetings with security agencies to stem the rising wave of insecurity in the lakeside county.
He said the government would not tolerate killings, gang violence and other criminal activities that have recently threatened peace in the region.
The PS appealed to parents whose children are involved in crime to intervene before they are arrested or lose their lives during criminal activities.
“Young people, I want you to listen carefully. This is our home. We cannot continue fighting and killing our own people. We have held discussions with the top security leadership, and I am asking parents to speak to their children. If you fail to do so, you may end up organizing funerals or spending huge amounts of money trying to bail them out of prison,” Omollo said.
He urged residents to cooperate with security agencies by encouraging wayward youths to abandon crime, saying it would make the work of law enforcement officers easier.
On development, Omollo said the government was making significant progress in addressing the perennial flooding that has affected Nyando and neighbouring counties for decades.
He revealed that out of the 30 kilometres of dykes planned for construction, 14 kilometres had already been completed through the National Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA).
According to the PS, the National Treasury has allocated additional funding in the current financial year to enable the LBDA to construct another 10 kilometres of dykes.
He expressed confidence that by the end of the 2026/27 financial year, the government would have substantially resolved the perennial flooding that has long affected Nyando, Homa Bay and Busia counties.
Omollo further disclosed that the government is planning to construct 50 mega dams under the national infrastructure development programme, with two of the projects earmarked for the Nyanza region.
He said the dams would help control flooding while improving water supply for households, irrigation and economic activities.
The Interior PS also announced that the government had created several new administrative units and was now seeking qualified candidates to serve as chiefs and assistant chiefs.
“We have created many administrative units, and we are now looking for qualified men and women to serve as chiefs and assistant chiefs. We urge communities to recommend people of integrity and good character who will help bring government services closer to wananchi,” he said.
He also encouraged residents to register for national identification documents, noting that nearly one million people in the Nyanza region were yet to obtain IDs, limiting their access to government services and opportunities.
Addressing criticism over the government’s economic empowerment programmes, Omollo defended President William Ruto’s administration, saying development resources were being distributed fairly across the country regardless of political or ethnic affiliations.
He argued that unlike previous administrations, the Kenya Kwanza government was implementing development projects equitably and ensuring every region benefited from national resources.
The Women SME empowerment fundraiser attracted top ODM leaders led by ODM deputy party leader Oburu Oginga and the party’s national chairperson Gladys Wanga.
Also in attendance were James Opiyo Wandayi, who donated KSh1 million, and John Mbadi, who also contributed KSh1 million towards supporting women-owned SMEs. President William Ruto donated KSh10 million in kind.
ODM MPs and local leaders present pledged to support President Ruto’s re-election bid in 2027, saying his administration had delivered substantial development projects across the Nyanza region.
