Government to form special police unit to fight child trafficking - Murkomen

A special police unit will be established to help crack down on child and human trafficking networks across the country, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced.

The move follows a BBC Africa Eye exposé that revealed underage girls were being exploited by truck drivers in Mai Mahiu.

Speaking on Thursday during the Jukwaa La Usalama town hall meeting in Kericho County, Murkomen said the government was alarmed by the disturbing revelations and would take immediate action to protect vulnerable children and women.

“The government has resolved to form a specialised police unit that will work closely with other agencies to dismantle child and human trafficking networks,” Murkomen said.

The CS said investigations were already underway into the Mai Mahiu incident, where the documentary captured girls being lured, exploited, and abused by long-distance truck drivers.

“We cannot allow a situation where our children are exposed to exploitation and abuse in the name of trade or transport corridors. It is unacceptable,” he said.

He noted that the special unit would be backed by enhanced surveillance and intelligence-sharing systems and that officers found to be abetting trafficking or ignoring reports would face disciplinary action.

“No one will be victimised for speaking the truth,” Murkomen said.

Responding to concerns raised by a senior officer during a previous stop of the Jukwaa La Usalama tour in Laikipia, Murkomen assured police officers that they would not face any form of victimisation for expressing concerns during the ongoing national dialogue forums.

He referenced a controversial remark by an officer who had spoken on the challenges female officers face in frontline deployments, saying the essence of the forums was to provide honest feedback from the public and security personnel.

“No one will be victimised for speaking the truth. The government appreciates the role of all genders in policing,” the CS said.

While urging officers to remain respectful and tactful in how they voice their concerns, the CS said that their insights were critical in reforming the security sector.

“The officer was only trying to reflect the lived realities of female officers in the field. The Kenya Kwanza administration is committed to empowering and supporting both men and women in service without discrimination,” he said.

He added that the upcoming recruitment of 10,000 new police officers will include female candidates as part of the government’s commitment to gender inclusivity.

Murkomen also clarified that expectant officers or those with health conditions would not be deployed to the frontline during operations, in line with internal policies that promote the welfare of officers.

The CS further addressed long-standing concerns over stagnation in police ranks, particularly among officers aged 50 and above who have remained in the positions of constable, corporal or sergeant for years.

He noted that the directive to promote officers who have stagnated will be implemented progressively.

In addition, he announced the resumption of training for chiefs, which had stalled since 2018.

“After eight years, 1,000 officers will be training from tomorrow, Friday, August 8. Another group will start next month,” he said.

The training will focus on public administration and is expected to enhance service delivery in local administrative units.

Murkomen reiterated that the government’s broader goal was to rebuild trust in the security system by ensuring police officers are motivated, respected and responsive to the needs of the public.