Crime: Why Nairobi, Kiambu and Meru are more dangerous than bandit-infested North Rift

It is riskier to live in Nairobi, Kiambu and Meru compared to banditry-prone counties such as Baringo, West Pokot, Turkana, Narok, Baringo and Nandi, according to the 2022 National Economic Survey. The report, which was released on Wednesday, indicated that these three counties accounted for the highest proportion of reported crimes, while Samburu, Isiolo, Kiambu and Kajiado also recorded significant increases in criminal activities during the review period. "Nairobi City, Kiambu and Meru command stations accounted for the highest proportion of crimes reported at 9.7, 8.9, and 6.5 per cent, respectively," it said. According to the report, crime rates significantly increased in Samburu, Isiolo, Kiambu, and Kajiado. The report said that Nairobi recorded the highest number of persons reported to the police to have committed crime at 8,519, followed by Kiambu and Meru counties at 7,825 and 5,672 persons, respectively. Samburu and Kiambu command stations were among those that recorded an increased number of people reported to have committed crime in 2022. However, Kakamega, Siaya and Marsabit counties recorded declines in the number of people reported to have committed crime. "Nairobi had 8,512 criminal cases, followed by Kiambu with 7,844 and Meru with 5,698." Other top counties are Nakuru (4,514), Machakos (3,813), Bungoma (2,668), Kitui (2,314), Kajiado (2,117), Uasin Gishu (2,270), and Trans Nzoia (2,022)," the report said. Others are Siaya (1,069), Busia (1,240), Laikipia (1,229), Nyamira (1,279), Kakamega (1,331) and Nyandarua (1,586). The counties with the least crime included Lamu (431), Samburu (534), West Pokot (680), Turkana (846), Narok (784), Elgeyo Marakwet (784), Baringo (868), Nandi (893) and Vihiga (923). The report said that the number of people reported to have committed crime across the country increased by 4.4 per cent to 87,858 in 2022. "During the review period, the number of crimes committed by males increased by 2.3 per cent to 70,383, while crimes committed by females increased by 13.6 per cent to 17,475," the report said. The number of people who were reported to have committed crimes of robbery, break-ins, and theft increased from 25,721 in 2021 to 29,948 in 2022. "Within this category, persons reported to have committed theft of stock, stealing and robbery increased by 28.0, 21.4, and 15.1 per cent, respectively. Cases of theft by servants, however, declined by 12.5 per cent to 1,702 in 2022," the report said. Nature of Crimes Those reported for crimes such as dangerous drugs, criminal damage, economic crimes, corruption and offences involving police officers increased from 15,255 in 2021 to 15,564 in 2022. "Persons reported for dealing in dangerous drugs accounted for the highest proportion within this category, increasing by 8.3 per cent to 6,544 in 2022," the survey said, adding, "This was followed by persons reported for criminal damages and economic crimes at 28.6 per cent and 28.2 per cent, respectively. However, the number of people reported for criminal damage declined by 8.8 per cent to 4,457 in 2022." Those reported to the police as having committed crimes against morality declined by 14.8 per cent to 7,199 in 2022. "Defilement accounted for 76.8 per cent of the number of people reported to have committed crimes against morality, followed by rape at 11.5 per cent," the report said. Persons reported to have committed bestiality increased from 14 in 2021 to 22 in 2022, while those involved in indecent assault increased by 19.0 per cent to 375 in 2022. There was a marked reduction in the number of people reported to have committed bigamy, from 99 in 2021 to 21 in 2022. The survey said that the most reported crimes are homicide (3,056), offences against morality (7,166), offences against persons (22,573), robbery (3,125), break-ins (6,114), theft of stock (2,679) and theft (14,718). Others are theft of vehicles and other thefts (1,459), dangerous drugs (6,526), traffic offences (158), criminal damage (4,426), offences involving tourists (26), criminal damage (4,426), corruption (95), economic crimes (4,367), theft by civil servants (1,690), and other penal code offences (9,828). Police recovered 235 illegally held firearms, compared to 98 firearms recovered in 2021. "The number of firearms surrendered increased to 375 in 2022, compared to 16 firearms surrendered in 2021. Police recovered 3,879 rounds of ammunition in 2022, down from 8,225 recovered in 2021. There was a decline in the number of dangerous drugs seized from 13,080 kilograms in 2021 to 5,850 kilograms in 2022," the police said. Corruption Corruption cases reported for investigation declined by 5.7 per cent to 1,916 in 2021/22. On the other hand, reports pending more information more than doubled from 73 in 2020/21 to 162 in 2021/22. Similarly, the number of reports forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) almost tripled from 103 in 2020/21 to 283 in 2021/22. The reports referred to public organisations increased by 26.9 per cent to 496 in 2021/22, while those with no further action (terminated) increased by 5.8 per cent to 822 during the review period. The number of crimes reported to the police increased by 8.4 per cent to 88,083 in 2022. Offences against persons, stealing, and offences against morality jointly accounted for more than half of the total crimes reported to the police. Theft of stock had the highest increase in reported crimes, followed by traffic offences and robbery, while stealing increased by 25.1 per cent to 14,718. People who were jailed increased from 160,121 in 2021 to 169,579 in 2022, out of whom 60.8 per cent were unconvicted prisoners. "Nearly one in four prisoners was charged with liquor offences, and the population of convicted juvenile prisoners and adult prisoners increased from 406 and 65,057, respectively, in 2021 to 927 and 65,493, respectively, in 2022," the survey said. The total population of offenders serving probation sentences, community services, and aftercare declined from 8,202, 25,633, and 54, respectively, in 2021 to 8,104, 10,702, and 37, respectively, in 2022. The total number of police officers, prison officers, and probation officers also increased from 101,421, 28,039, and 1,271, respectively, in 2021 to 109,857, 31,384, and 1,289, respectively, in 2022. "The value of assets traced more than doubled from Sh5.1 billion in 2020/21 to Sh11.2 billion in 2021/22. The value of assets recovered, however, declined from S 16.0 billion in 2020/21 to Sh0.9 billion in 2021/22. The commission averted the loss of public assets worth Sh4.0 billion in 2021/22, compared to Sh 8.0 billion in 2020/21," the report said.

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