DNK International By Kennedy Epalat,Amagoro.
A rejuvenated Nyumba Kumi Initiative in Amagoro Location, Teso North, Busia County, has vowed to crack down on chiefs, assistant chiefs and other government officers found frequenting illicit chang’aa dens.
Speaking during his first meeting with Nyumba Kumi members, village managers and security agencies at the DIDC Hall in Amagoro, the newly elected Amagoro Location Nyumba Kumi Chairman, Mark Wesonga who is also a martial arts expert trained in VIP protection, said no one would be spared in the campaign against illicit brews and insecurity.
“Charity begins at home. Drinking chang’aa has its own consequences. If I find any chief or assistant chief in a chang’aa den, I will arrest them,” Wesonga declared.
He said the Nyumba Kumi Initiative was committed to supporting President William Ruto’s efforts to eradicate illicit brews and strengthen grassroots security.
“I work for President William Ruto in helping eradicate illicit brews and tackle insecurity challenges at the grassroots. Anyone who violates these directives will face serious consequences,” he warned.
Officer Commanding Crime (OC Crime) at Malaba Police Station, Inspector Stephen Lokitok, who represented OCS Charles Juma, backed Wesonga’s position and urged him to enforce the law without fear or favour, including against police officers found engaging in illegal activities.
Inspector Lokitok praised the vigilance of Nyumba Kumi members in the Uplands area, recalling an incident in which he was stopped and questioned by members while riding home on a motorcycle before being allowed to proceed after identifying himself.
“That is exactly what Nyumba Kumi is supposed to do,” he said.
He urged chiefs and assistant chiefs to thoroughly vet Ugandan nationals seeking employment as farmhands or domestic workers by demanding recommendation letters from their respective Local Council One (LC1) authorities before allowing them to work in Kenya.
Lokitok said Nyumba Kumi members should also help identify cases of teenage cohabitation and child marriage and report them immediately for action.
He cited a case in Mombasa where a female police officer unknowingly cohabited with an armed gangster, leading to the recovery of a firearm after investigations.
The officer also appealed to women to report suspicious goods brought home by their spouses or partners, noting that such items could be stolen property.
He announced that police would soon launch an operation targeting motorcycles fitted with coloured headlights, saying they pose a danger to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
Lokitok further warned against individuals who have assumed responsibility for guarding long-distance trucks along the Northern Corridor without proper vetting.
He urged the local administration and Nyumba Kumi leaders to ensure such people are properly identified and vetted.
He encouraged the business community to work closely with trusted Nyumba Kumi members to safeguard businesses and cargo, noting that improved vigilance had significantly reduced incidents involving long-distance trucks.
On the recent fuel tanker accident at Ikapolok, about four kilometres from Malaba, Lokitok said investigations indicated the crash was deliberately staged to conceal earlier fuel siphoning.
“It was intended to conceal evidence of fuel siphoning elsewhere before making it appear as a road accident,” he said.
Wesonga also expressed concern over the state of the multi-million-shilling Amagoro Market built under the Economic Stimulus Programme, alleging that parts of the facility had been turned into a brothel.
One participant narrated an incident in which he found a female hawker in the company of a student from the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), adding that those involved often intimidate members of the public.
Inspector Lokitok said police, working together with Nyumba Kumi, would conduct a crackdown to restore order and protect the image of the sub-county headquarters.
Participants also blamed the growing availability of public Wi-Fi in Amagoro for attracting idle students to the market.
Wesonga urged landlords and the business community to cooperate with Nyumba Kumi by knowing their tenants and reporting suspicious individuals.
“Landlords should know the people they accommodate. We must work together and respect the Nyumba Kumi structure,” he said.
The meeting resolved that Nyumba Kumi members should undergo formal training and be issued with official name tags to improve their effectiveness.
Acting Amagoro and Township Chief Nimrod Okapesi said the revival of Nyumba Kumi would enable the new leadership to conduct village-by-village elections to fill positions such as vice-chairperson and strengthen grassroots security structures.
Village managers were directed to identify areas where residents violate noise pollution regulations and submit reports to the Deputy County Commissioner’s office within five days.
Cynthia Mungiri identified poor communication as one of the major challenges facing the initiative and called for thorough vetting of Nyumba Kumi officials to ensure individuals with criminal records are not elected into leadership positions.
“We are all not perfect, but there should be thorough vetting during elections to ensure those chosen to serve in Nyumba Kumi have integrity and no criminal record,” she said.
[DNK-International@July 3,2026]
