Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has declared Lake Victoria and Lake Turkana critical frontlines in intensified crackdown on drugs, illicit alcohol and transnational crime, and announced plans to urgently strengthen the Kenya Coast Guard’s capacity to address weak patrol capacity.

Speaking in Kisumu after touring the Kenya Coast Guard Service (KCGS) regional headquarters, Mr Murkomen said smugglers were increasingly using the country’s international waters to ferry contraband goods, exploiting weak patrol capacity and porous borders.

“Lake Victoria and Lake Turkana are border lakes and one of the routes used to smuggle drugs and illicit alcohol. That is why the Coast Guard is extremely important in securing these waters,” Murkomen said and noted that President William Ruto had designated 2026 as a decisive year in the fight against drugs and alcohol abuse.

The cabinet secretary said the government had identified a shortage of patrol boats as a major constraint and was fast-tracking the rehabilitation of nine vessels through a partnership with Kenya Shipyard Limited (KSL), an agency under the ministry of defence.

Four of the boats, he said, are based in Kisumu while five are in the coast region, with the cabinet secretary directing that the overhaul be expedited to allow joint lake patrols involving multiple security agencies.

The move comes amid rising complaints by fishermen and fish cage investors over harassment by security agencies from neighbouring countries, theft of fish and vandalism of fishing gear on Lake Victoria.

“There have been many complaints from fishermen and women about harassment, robbery and theft of fishing equipment. We want to strengthen the Coast Guard so they can patrol the lake effectively,” he said.

While reaffirming Kenya’s existing cooperation framework with Uganda on joint lake management, Murkomen said Kenya must also enhance its own enforcement capability to protect livelihoods and maritime resources.

The cabinet secretary announced that at least 200 newly trained officers would be deployed to the Coast Guard from recent recruitments into the Kenya Defence Forces and the National Police Service to address manpower shortages.

Beyond lake security, Murkomen also used the visit to warn against police brutality, saying the government would not tolerate human rights violations by security officers. He said senior police commanders had been instructed to closely monitor officers accused of using excessive force and to act decisively against those found culpable, including removing from service officers with untreated mental health or substance abuse challenges.

“We do not condone human rights violations. Officers who violate the law will be punished and those who need medical attention will be taken for rehabilitation,” he said, citing recent incidents of police shootings in parts of the country, Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, who accompanied the cabinet secretary, welcomed the renewed focus on lake security, saying Lake Victoria activities form a significant part of the county’s economy.

He cited cases where fish cages had been destroyed overnight and called for collaboration among security agencies, beach management units and cage fish farmers to safeguard investments and boost productivity.

The Coast Guard Service was established in 2018 to secure Kenya’s territorial waters, protect maritime resources and enhance national security.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Chris Mahandara