Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has urged Kenyans to distinguish between corruption and genuine community support for police officers. Speaking at the Jukwaa la Usalama forum on Friday, Murkomen said voluntary contributions to law enforcement should not automatically be equated with bribery.
He explained that in many parts of the country, communities often step in to assist police officers with resources ranging from land donations for new stations to contributions for fuel when vehicles are grounded. According to him, such gestures should be viewed as goodwill rather than inducements.
“You can’t tell me it will be corruption if the community donates land to build a police station,” Murkomen said. “During Christmas, if locals take goodies to the OCS and officers to celebrate, it is not corruption.”
The CS emphasised that corruption occurs when officers demand money or favours in exchange for services or to avoid enforcement, not when citizens make voluntary contributions to strengthen security.
Murkomen highlighted the logistical challenges many police stations face, including delays due to lack of fuel or inadequate resources. In such cases, he argued, leaders or residents should not fear being accused of corruption when stepping in to help.
“If you approach an OCS waiting for fuel allocations, and you are an MP who can assist, you should be able to provide support so the vehicle can move and serve the community,” he said.
He added that the government is working to address resource shortages within the police service to reduce dependence on external support. However, until these gaps are filled, Murkomen maintained that community goodwill should be encouraged, not discouraged.
The Interior CS concluded by insisting that acts of kindness or voluntary donations should be clearly separated from corruption, which involves coercion or quid pro quo arrangements.
