Study: Nairobi and North Eastern have highest crime rates

KENYA: Nairobi and North Eastern have the highest incidence of crime in the country, according to an Ipsos Synovate survey.

The majority of the victims were in Nairobi, which recorded 14 per cent while 10 per cent of them were in North Eastern, nine per cent in Coast, six per cent in Western, five per cent in Eastern, three per cent in Central and Nyanza and two per cent in Rift Valley.

The study conducted in 41 counties also claims that crime is on the decline. The survey showed that five per cent (100 people) of the 2,002 people interviewed have been victims of crime in the last one month. This is the second study by the firm to show that crime is going down.

Fourteen per per cent of the respondents in Nairobi reported that they were victims of crime, North Eastern (10 per cent), Coast (nine per cent), Western (six per cent), Eastern (five per cent), three per cent in Central and Nyanza and and two per cent in Rift Valley.

Shockingly, 15 per cent of the crime victims said that they were attacked more than once during the study period.

The study employed random and multi-stage stratified methodology using proportionate to population size (PPS). Kenyan adults aged 18 and above living in urban and rural areas were contacted through face-to-face interviews and sampling error of +/-2.2 per cent with a 95 per cent confidence level.

Interestingly, almost half of the crime victims, (49 per cent) never reported the crimes to the police.

CRIMIN ALS ARRESTED

According to the report, 61 per cent of those who reported to the police said they were not satisfied with the response from the authorities, 20 per cent said they were somewhat satisfied while only 13 per cent said they were completely satisfied.

Of those who reported the crimes, 48 per cent said the criminals were arrested, 19 per cent said their stolen property was recovered and 29 per cent said police took measures to address insecurity.

Of those who were not satisfied (55 per cent) said there was not police follow-up, 21 per cent cited corruption while 18 per cent said there was no police response.

Many Kenyans, (77 per cent) of those sampled, are aware Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) are in Somalia. However, half the number (49 per cent) believes KDF’s presence will not help bring back sanity in Somalia. Thirty-six per cent of the respondents say our soldiers will bring stability in the war-torn country.

Of those aware of the KDF presence in Somalia, 43 per cent said there is less likelihood of increased in terrorist attacks in Kenya, 44 per cent said there is more likelihood and nine per cent said there will be no difference.

Many of them (48 per cent) said there is less likelihood Somalia refugees will return to their country, while 28 per cent said there is more likelihood they will.

Some 45 per cent of those interviewed said KDF will more likely defeat the terrorist group while 38 per cent said this is unlikely.

Majority of those interviewed (57 per cent) approve the continued deployment of KDF in Somalia. Majority of Kenyans (76 per cent) see Al Shabaab as a big threat to Kenya.

Of those interviewed, 25 per cent want Kenya to send more troops to Somalia while an equal number want KDF pulled out of Somalia.