Police report shows reduction in crime level by 8 per cent

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.