Why homicide cases are on the rise

Directorate of Criminal Investigations boss Mohamed Amin. [File, Standard]

Directorate of Criminal Investigations boss Mohamed Amin has warned that Kenya is facing a homicide crisis.

 Amin said his investigations team has handled several murder cases involving partners this year.

“What we are seeing is a spike in murders, mainly due to domestic violence,” he said.

He noted that in 2025, the DCI had also investigated cases related to domestic violence, femicide, transnational organised crime, economic crime, cybercrime, and violent robberies.

The DCI boss was speaking on Wednesday at the Embakasi Police Training College, Nairobi, where he accompanied Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and his deputies, Gilbert Masengeli and Eliud Lagat. The top police leadership had gone to commission the training of recruits at both the General Service Unit and Administration Police colleges.

“We are looking forward to August 2026, when we should be back here to witness their graduation and subsequent deployment,” said Kanja.

The IG assured that the police were well prepared for the festive season and that officers would be conducting patrols in all areas. He said the police would also mount roadblocks, conduct surveillance, deploy speed cameras, and operate alcoblow checkpoints.

Kanja commended the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) for establishing mobile courts to prosecute traffic offenders. “This will allow us to deal with errant drivers on the spot and ensure that our roads remain safe throughout the festive season,” he said.

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He urged Kenyans to stay safe on the roads while being mindful of fellow citizens, whether pedestrians or motorcyclists. The Inspector General also asked parents to keep an eye on their children during the festive period, noting that their well-being begins with proper care.

This comes as the Ministry of Interior announced the recall of police officers who were on leave during the festive period.

“The overall security situation across the country remains calm and stable. However, based on past trends, this period may see isolated security incidents, traffic violations, and other opportunistic criminal activities,” the ministry said in a statement.

It announced that the National Multi-Agency Command Centre had been activated to enhance monitoring, surveillance, and intelligence gathering. The command centre brings together the Kenya Defence Forces, National Intelligence Service, National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service, Kenya Wildlife Service, National Youth Service, and the National Government Administration.

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) announced it would deploy more officers on highways and other major roads. The authority also urged travellers to use alternative routes to avoid traffic snarl-ups commonly experienced during the festive season.

Addressing the recruits, Kanja urged them to take their training seriously, warning that disciplinary issues would not be tolerated. Masengeli commended the recruits for making the cut, emphasising that they were not there as individuals but as members of the National Police Service (NPS). Lagat urged the recruits to focus on their training so they could join the NPS in August 2026.