Crimes in Kenya drop by 8 percent

Saturday, December 21, 2013

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A new report by the National Police Service shows that crime rates in Kenya have decreased by eight percent since January to November this year compared to the same period last year.

The report indicates that during the period under review, crime decreased by 5,903 cases or 8 percent.

The report particularly indicates that there was a decrease in cases of economic crimes at 21 percent, theft of stock at 17 percent and offences against persons at seven percent.

The report however indicates that while other months recorded decrease in crime cases, the month of May and November recorded high.

Speaking during the launch of the report on Friday, the Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo attributed the decrease to public cooperation with the police and the increased police mobility.

He said the government had committed to facilitate the service even more, to improve the situation further.

“National economy cannot flourish without internal stability, order and effective enforcement of laws nor can any business or other activities develop without internal cohesion,” he explained.

“Effective policing is therefore crucial to both internal security and economic growth.”

“Crime is a complex phenomenon which cannot be solved without active cooperation among members of the public, various key sectors and law enforcement agencies.”

The Inspector General of Police added that as crime continues to evolve, the police service was adopting a new technology to curb insecurity.

He noted that community policing was going to be fully adopted to ensure every person participate in maintaining security.

“Active community policing desks should be maintained in our police stations for this cause. Intelligence led policing which we have now fully embraced must remain a permanent feature of our service delivery strategy,” he said.

He pointed out that this will, “even be strengthened by establishing structures down to the grass roots by embracing Nyumba Kumi model.”

Despite the decrease in crime rates, robbery cases increased at 10 percent, homicide at 6 percent and vehicle and other thefts at three percent.

On individual crime analysis, there was recorded increase in rape cases at 22 percent and robbery with violence increasing by nine percent.

Rape recorded a total of 882 cases with Kiambu leading the list at 71 cases, Nakuru 57 cases and Turkana with 45 cases.

On issues of traffic, the report also indicated a decrease by 743 cases.

Within the period under review, a total of 5,611 accidents were recorded compared to 6,354 accidents in 2012 with 2,823 of the victims losing their lives.

The survey further shows that mob injustice incidents recorded a significant escalation with 509 cases being reported to police during the period.

“These can greatly be attributed to perceived ineffectiveness of the Criminal Justice System by the populace who take law into their hands,” the report indicates.

Among crimes reported was also domestic violence manifested by either wife or husbands poisoning or setting fire on their homes after killing the whole family.

“These can be attributed to high levels of poverty, deeply engrained beliefs about gender roles and marriage, abuse of drugs, culture, among others,” the report states.

“The Local Administration including Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs, through Barazas should endeavour to organize for marriage awareness programs with recognized counselling institutions,” it recommends.

The report also shows that incidences of border incursions and attacks have been experienced mainly in two regions in the country; North Rift and North Eastern regions.

Border insecurity was attributed to either, “ Cattle rustling culture among pastoralists communities living along the border, Inter-clan clashes where same clan members living in neighbouring countries reinforce their counterparts living within Kenyan borders or scarce natural resources like water and pastures where nomadic pastoralists graze their stock across the Porous borders.”

Poaching was also put as a major threat to the National Security.

“However, measures by the Security agents led by the Kenya Wildlife Service have been put in place to curb this heinous crime,” the report reads.

Among the measures formulated by the authorities include the formation of a special Anti-Poaching squad whose main task is to tackle poaching in the country.

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