Poll: Majority of Nairobi’s slum dwellers believe crime will increase if travel restrictions are extended

Sixty-one per cent of Nairobi’s slum dwellers say crime will increase if travel restrictions are extended.

A poll done by Trends and Insights for Africa (TIFA) on effects of Covid-19 containment measures was released yesterday.

Round One of the survey was conducted at the end of April and captured the experiences, views and expectations of 356 respondents in Nairobi’s low-income areas.

President Uhuru Kenyatta on April 6, 2020, banned movement in and out of four counties of Nairobi, Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi and Kwale and declared a curfew from 7pm to 5am to stop spread of the pandemic for three weeks.

The ban was to end on June 6, but Uhuru extended it for 30 days and also held out the curfew but shortened the time from 9pm to 4am. Kenyans are waiting with bated breath to see if he will today end or extend the curfew and travel restrictions.

Before June 6 announcement on restrictions, 39 per cent wanted travel ban and curfew to remain in force, But after June 6 announcement, 86 per cent wanted the travel restrictions to remain while 79 per cent wanted the curfew to remain but with reduced hours.

“It is possible that the increase in the “support” for the restrictions is based more on the reduction of the curfew hours during the June 6 announcement by President Uhuru,” added the survey.

The survey was conducted between June 2 and 15 in Nairobi County’s low income areas of Huruma, Kibera, Mathare, Korogocho, Mukuru Kwa Njenga and Kawangware. The sample size of 579 respondents had 306 male and 273 female, majority being youths.

According to the survey, 74 per cent said they have experienced negative impacts on daily earnings due to curfew and travel restrictions.