We are not investigating Gachagua, Muturi over secrecy breach - CS Murkomen

Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen has said that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and former Public Service CS Justin Muturi were not under investigation for any breach.

Murkomen, however, reiterated that it’s a requirement for state and public officers to comply with the Secrecy Act.

The CS stressed that compliance enforcement is apolitical and does not target any individual, dismissing claims that Gachagua and Muturi are persons of interest.

This is after Members of Parliament expressed concerns that ex-state and public officers are bound by the confidential law and should not be disclosing sensitive matters when they vacate office.

Murkomen explained that this only applies to matters that border on national security.

“MPs asked general questions, including compliance with the confidentiality law. We have no complaint at the moment and no one is under investigation, “ Murkomen said.

“We are talking of any officer given the opportunity to access government information that could compromise national security and borders on espionage,” he said.

Murkomen at the same time said the government will not relent in its fight against illicit brew and counterfeit alcohol.

He directed National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) and the National Police Service (NPS) to launch a crackdown on illicit brew dens and apprehend the perpetrators.

The CS also flagged out counterfeit stamps of the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) being used to endorse alcohol.

“These issues are being dealt with and the regional and county security teams are on high alert,“ the CS said.

He said illicit brew and adulterated alcohol across-cutting matter that must be arrested urgently.

While acknowledging that illicit brew and fake alcohol are a major menace in some parts of the country, he announced that tougher regulations on the sector were underway because of its devastating effects.

During the public engagements, locals expressed their frustrations with the purification of these products, some accusing the security officers of being complicit.

For instance, in Machakos and Makueni counties, the locals urged the assistant chiefs and chiefs not to spare the brewers, saying the suspects are known but never apprehended.

They also called for a multiagency approach to arrest those selling adulterated alcohol.