The government is set to reinforce the Kenya Coast Guard Service with 200 additional officers to strengthen surveillance and secure vital inland waterways from illicit trade, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has revealed.
Murkomen said the move aims to curb the rising use of Lake Victoria and Lake Turkana by traffickers moving drugs and illegal alcohol across borders.
He added that a stronger Coast Guard presence will protect communities, ensure compliance with the law, and block criminal networks.
“The Kenya Coast Guard is extremely important in securing this path as we deal with drugs. We have seen that they need more boats and more human resources. We did recruitment in both the Kenya Defence Forces and the Kenya Police Service and upon graduation, 200 officers will be drawn from the armed forces to be deployed to the Kenya Coast Guard,” he said during an inspection in Kisumu.
During the tour, Murkomen met with Kenya Coast Guard Director General Bruno Shosio to evaluate operational readiness and plans along Lake Victoria, which he described as both strategic and economically vital for Kenya.
Officials also visited the Old Port station, whose rehabilitation is now 80 per cent complete and is expected to enhance rapid-response and monitoring capabilities.
Three patrol boats, refurbished by Kenya Shipyard Limited, are already in place to support lake operations, while the Interior Ministry is working on acquiring land for permanent Coast Guard facilities.
Murkomen highlighted the need for close coordination with Beach Management Units and other local actors to strengthen intelligence sharing, improve safety, and enforce regulations effectively.
Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o and Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service Gilbert Masengeli accompanied Murkomen during the inspection.
The announcement coincides with President William Ruto’s proposal to overhaul narcotics laws, including introducing the death penalty for trafficking hard drugs. Ruto said the reforms are necessary because current penalties are too light, allowing offenders to escape with fines as low as Sh1 million.
Under the proposed amendments, dealing in heroin, cocaine, and other hard drugs would become a capital offence.
“People who are selling heroin and cocaine are destroying our children. Those who are selling or their children don’t use it themselves; they come to sell to other people’s children,” Ruto said.
“The past law stated that such people should be fined Sh1 million. We are now changing the law to make it a capital offence. Those found guilty would face the ultimate penalty.”
He added that traffickers profit from addiction while protecting their own families from harm, calling the practice morally wrong.
