Violence and crime is a major dilemma in Africa’s country of Kenya, and
has been for decades. In specific cities, violence has spiraled out of
control. Kenya’s population in 2010 was 36,287,423 (Van Der Heyden,).
Currently law enforcement in some of these cities is insufficient, in
comparison to the number of people. Establishment of order is arduous for
the police, in cities so densely populated. The crime-ridden city of
Nairobi in Kenya is home to one of Africa’s most violent urban cultures,
and 3,240,155 citizens.( Van Der Heyden,). Can police in Nairobi be
trusted to protect its people, and prevent crime and violence effectively?
What obstacles do they face in trying to do this?
These loaded questions have tremendous importance, both to inhabitants of
Africa and human beings around the world, because of the horrifying things
that go on in Nairobi. Countless lives are taken every day, and crime
plagues Nairobi like a virus plagues the body. Police in any city are
essential for safety to its people and the people’s confidence in that
police force is of paramount importance. According to the Kenyan police
website, their “Mission” is “To reduce crime and promote development by
providing high quality police service through: Upholding and applying the
law fairly, and firmly, and creating/ maintaining community soldiers
through corporations with police and local leaders” (“Our Mission”).
Although this is their “Mission”, the citizens’ impression of police in
Nairobi is filled with wariness and doubt. The citizens’ distrust doesn’t
happen for no reason; if they could trust police, they would.
The prevalence of violence and crime are in Nairobi leave the citizenry
constantly on edge. A New York Times article on Nairobi said, “More than
one third of Nairobi’s residences were robbed with a threat of force over
the last year, and half of those who live in the sprawling city hear
gunfire, the study says” (Lacey). With danger of this caliber, there’s an
obvious need for police presence, which is grossly inadequate. Despite
their need for protection, most of Nairobi’s citizens do not trust the
police. During a survey of 8621 Nairobi citizens, “98% say the police are
corrupt” (Lacey). With all of the chaos and turmoil going on within the
city, and no trustworthy police to confide in, there is a vacuum in the
demand for protection.
Considering the high level of danger, and the heavy distrust in police, it
becomes the citizen’s job to find resolutions for themselves, which
includes militias, gangs, mobs, and vigilantes. Police support some
vigilante groups, and militias, but just like the police they are not
trustworthy and are sometimes are equally corrupt. Mobs and gangs at least
are more akin to the citizens’ feelings and give the illusion of being
more worthy of trust. This encourages this form of protection, rather
than that of police. Nairobi’s people trusting some of these groups who
participate in crime themselves, over its police force, underscores the
people’s distrust in traditional law enforcement.
The underlying theme in the protection dilemma is corruption. Corruption
flows from the top of the Kenyan government. “The activity of militias,
vigilantes, and gangs supported by leading politicians playing a game of
divide and rule as they vie for political supremacy makes this all the
more worrying” (Daniels). These gangs political ties allow them to lobby
for elected officials, and to have funding for their group. During my
research it was unclear as to how these groups are recruited, and when
recruited how are they compensated. One can assume they are approached and
bribed to vie for that politician’s position. These groups may provide
some safety for citizens, but there is obviously more than one group.
Because each group has a different cause, or a different political backing
there are clashes between them. “Inter-gang fighting and clashes have
occurred in Nairobi, fighting in 2006 between Mungiki and an ethnic Luo
gang called Taliban caused several deaths, displacing at least 9,000 in a
dispute over control of a lucrative illicit brew market in Mathare”
(Daniels). Kenyan security services hire some groups of vigilantes in the
city to assist police. Despite this, some of the mobs such as the Mungiki
are too powerful, and have too much political influence to eradicate.
“Professor Philip Alston published a report calling for the sacking of
Police Commissioner, Major General Hussein Ali, and the resignation of
Attorney General, Amos Wako. Detailing his findings on extrajudicial
killings in Kenya, Alston accused the Police Commissioner, the Attorney
General and the judiciary of perpetrating, aiding and abetting impunity”
(Daniels).
In the end, corruption of police and government in Nairobi prevents both
the local police force and its vigilante counterpart groups from having
any legitimate effect on crime. This happens because of a lack of trust in
police by citizens, and police not having the means to apprehend crime and
violence. “Law enforcement and the criminal justice institutions are
largely unable to cope with the level of criminal activities due to lack
of equipment and poor training, which contribute to the perception of them
being considered unprofessional and incapable of stemming the tide of
criminal activities in the city” (“Nairobi: Crime and the City”). Between
the police supported groups, and the mobs and gangs, there is constant
clashing. With all of this conflicting power, citizens are thrown into the
danger, when they were looking for protection in the first place. Further
government influence is needed to make Nairobi law enforcement more
effective. With different political groups supporting different gangs,
militias, or ideas, there is a sort of civil war going on.
Nairobi’s constant violence and fighting reminds me of how fortunate I am,
to live in America. Most Americans, me included, cannot understand the
level of danger in Nairobi faced by everyday person. Being worried about
protection in my community is something I have never experienced.
Unfortunately citizens of Nairobi have to deal with this, which makes me
appreciate my life more, and I hope others would feel the same. After my
research, I have concluded that police don’t have a positive effect on
Nairobi’s citizens, or its crime and violence. This is a result of the
many obstacles police face in trying to achieve order. These include
corruption in government, insufficient numbers of police, gang, and mob
activity, the overwhelming amount of crime and ruthless violence. With
gang’s fighting rival gangs, and mob’s fighting rival mobs, the police
almost add to the chaos, by adding another group in the fight. Instead of
stopping the problem, they exacerbate it further. Hopefully future
government leaders will instill a form of trust in people regarding
police, and can stop the corruption and, eventually, the violence.
Work Cited:
1.) Daniels, Nicholas “Militias, Gangs, and Vigilantes in Kenya: “The
Consequences of Abandoning the Reform Agenda.” Opendemocracy.net Web. 21
Sept. 2011. http://www.unhabitat.org
2.) Marc Lacey “U.N. Study says Nairobi is Inundated with crime”-N.Y.
Times newspaper, Published: Nov 29, 2001.
3.) “Nairobi: Crime and the City.” Un-habitat.:. Home. United Nations.
Web. Sept. 2011. http://www.unhabitat.org
4.) “Our Mission”, “Welcome to the Kenya Police Website. Web. 21 Sept.
2011. http://www.kenyapolice.go.ke>
5.) Tibaijuka, Anna. “Crime in Nairobi”, Web. 21 Sept 2011
http://www.opendemocracy.net
6.) Van Der Heyden, Johan. “Kenya.” Geohive- Population Statistics. Johan
Van Der Heyden, 2000. Web 21 Sept 2011 http://www.geohive.com
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