Kisumu County Commissioner Mohammed Ramadhan Mwabudzo has warned criminal gangs operating in the county that they face a sustained security crackdown.
Speaking on Tuesday during the destruction of counterfeit and contraband goods at the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI) in Kibos, Mr Mwabudzo said authorities are determined to dismantle the groups.
He said eight suspects linked to criminal activities in Kisumu East Sub County had been arrested and charged in court, while police were pursuing others believed to have gone into hiding.
“Security agencies would continue operations until criminal gangs were eliminated,” Mr Mwabudzo said.
The county commissioner urged those involved in gang activity to abandon crime and seek legitimate sources of income, warning that law enforcement officers would take action against anyone found engaging in criminal acts.
“We are warning goons in Kisumu that your time is over. Look for an alternative livelihood because we don’t care who is sponsoring you. You cannot continue giving residents sleepless nights,” he said.
Mr Mwabudzo described Kisumu as a peaceful and investor-friendly city and said maintaining security was essential to protecting its reputation.
He expressed confidence that security agencies would dismantle criminal gangs by the end of July and appealed to residents to share information that could help police investigations.
He assured members of the public that the identities of informants would remain confidential.
The county commissioner also warned politicians alleged to be sponsoring criminal gangs for political purposes, saying anyone found financing or harbouring criminals would face legal action.
“Walking around with gangs for political influence is an outdated tactic. Anyone found sponsoring criminals will face the full force of the law,” he said.
On the fight against counterfeit goods, Mr Mwabudzo said the government, working with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA), the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), would intensify enforcement operations.
He said counterfeit and substandard products posed a risk to public health and disadvantaged legitimate manufacturers and traders.”We will not tolerate goods that do not meet the required standards.
Cheap and illicit alcohol, counterfeit products and all fake goods will continue to be seized. Our responsibility is to protect consumers and manufacturers who produce quality products,” he said.
KRA officer Nancy Chemutai said the destroyed counterfeit goods were worth about Sh100m.
She said the consignment included counterfeit alcoholic drinks, bottled water, cigarettes and soft drinks, which she said were unfit for human consumption.
Ms Chemutai said the destruction exercise demonstrated KRA’s commitment to protecting public health, safeguarding government revenue and supporting genuine manufacturers and importers.
This exercise reflects KRA’s commitment to ensuring illicit products do not find their way into the market.
“These goods are not fit for human consumption. We are protecting local manufacturers and genuine importers from unfair competition by counterfeit products,” she said.
She added that KRA and partner agencies were investigating the origin of the counterfeit products and those responsible for importing or manufacturing them.
“We want Kenyans to consume only legitimate products. This operation does not end here. We will continue pursuing those behind the manufacture, importation and distribution of counterfeit goods until the trade is eliminated,” she said.
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