BY ISAAC MESO
NAIROBI, KENYA: The level of crime in the country has decreased by 5903 cases or 8 per cent as compared to last year .This is according to an annual crime report released by the National police service.
The report has also revealed that rape cases in the country has increased by 22 percent followed by robbery and murder at 19 per cent and 11 per cent respectively.
Major decreases in crime has been noted on economic crimes which has decreased by 21 per cent, stealing at 19 per cent, theft o stock at 17 per cent and breaking and offences against persons at 16 per cent and 7 per cent consecutively
Speaking during the release of the report Inspector General, David Kimaiyo cited that the decrease in crime was as a result of deployment of more officers at the community level and improved performance by the officers.
According to the report an increase in crime was recorded in the months of May and November by a margin of 11 per cent and 0.5 per cent.
On county crime analysis the report shows that Rape recorded a total of 882 Rape cases with Kiambu county recording the highest number of rape cases-71 cases or 9 per cent .
Counties which recorded an increase in crime according to the report included Kericho(278 cases), Nyandarua(263 cases), Taiva taveta(246 cases), lamu(234 cases) among others.
The I.G said that the government had procured 1,200 police vehicles which are to be deployed in various stations in the counties to fight crime and increase police patrol within the counties.
He further noted that 195 of the 1200 vehicles were set to be deployed to various police stations across the country today
A total number of 1749 murder cases were reported this year with Nairobi county recording the highest number of murder cases-151 cases or 9 per cent.
Kimaiyo noted that the biggest challenge that the National police service had faced this year was the Al-shabaab militia group whom to date he admitted still remained a threat to national security
He added that despite the threat stringent measures had been put in place to protect the country from terrorist groups including the faceless militia group-alshaabab.
The report also showed that wajir came out as the county with lowest crime index while Lamu emerged as the county with Highest crime index.
Kimaiyo also made various recommendations to the government to help improve the nature of security in the country. This included equipping the police with modern tools of trade, equipping the police with ICT and CCTV infrastructure to help track offenders in and out of the country.
The release of the annual crime report come in the wake of growing concern from general public and political class of an increase in the rate of crime across the country.