The government will deal mercilessly with people propagating criminal activities across the country.

Appearing before the Senate to respond to questions by the Senators, Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Pro. Kithure Kindiki said the government will mercilessly deal with drug traffickers, terrorists and people facilitation and carrying out organized criminal activities.

He said government will use all the available means to ensure criminals and facilitators of criminal activities are dealt with accordingly with full force of the law.

Further, the CS emphasized that the Kenya Kwanza Administration is determined to bring to book all the suspects that participated in the brutal murder of the Meru based political blogger Daniel Muthiani Bernard alias Sniper.

He told the Senate that investigations into the incident commenced immediately it was reported with security agencies arresting five suspects who have already been arraigned in court.

“Investigations placed five accused persons at the scene of abduction namely Vincent Murithi Kirimi, Murangiri Kenneth Guantai, Christus Manyara Kambi, Brian Mwenda and Bonface Kithinji Njiiyia who were together with the deceased from Meru town all the way to River Mutonga,” revealed CS Kindiki.

The five accused persons were charged for murder before a High Court at Kiambu, all of them pleading not guilty before being remanded at Nairobi and Kitengela remand prisons.

CS Kindiki assured the Senate that government is committed to ensuring that justice is delivered dismissing concerns that there was a deliberate delay in the investigations.

On the question of harassment, intimidation and violence against journalists, Pro. Kindiki told the Lawmakers that the Kenya Kwanza government is committed to uphold freedom of expression and right to information as enshrined in the Kenyan Constitution.

He encouraged any journalist or blogger who experience any harassment and intimidation to report to the nearest police stations revealing that police officers have already been sensitized on upholding the rule of law and constitutionalism.

The issues surrounding the abduction and execution of the Meru political blogger were brought to the attention of the Cabinet Secretary through questions by Meru County Senator who is also the Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi.

Sen. Murungi sympathized with the deceased family who he said are yet to bury their kin until justice is served appealing to government to hasten the process. 

Addressing the query on Sondu Town clashes raised by Kisumu County Senator Pro. Tom Ojienda SC, Prof Kindiki elaborated measures that the government has put in place to contain the situation.

Among the measure are deployment of more security officers, enhanced security patrols, joint meetings with officers from the affected counties and enhanced sharing of intelligence among security agencies.

Security agencies are also arresting and prosecuting suspects with the CS revealing that over five people have already been arrested and arraigned in court.

On the question of re-establishment of Wema General Service Unit camp in Tana River raised by Sen. Danson Mungatana, the CS revealed that plans are underway to reestablish the Camp in Kulesa Village Maziwa Sub Location, Salama Location in Tana Delta Sub County, the area that was identified by the security committee in liaison with the community.

Wema Unit was marooned by floods in 2023 following heavy rainfall that was experienced across the country.

Responding to the question by Turkana Senator James Lomenen on the curfew in major towns in Turkana, CS Kindiki appealed to political leaders to help in sensitizing the community on peaceful coexistence assuring them that the government is up to the task to ensure peace and safety for all Kenyans.

Touching on the question of operationalization of Chiakariga Sub County in Tharaka Nithi County raised by Sen. Mwenda Gataya Mo Fire, Prof. Kindiki said the government will prioritize allocation of funds in the financial year 2024/2025 for the full operationalization of the Sub County.