Nairobi leads in 1,011 homicides recorded across Kenya

Some 1,011 homicides were committed last year with Nairobi, Kilifi, Homa Bay, Kiambu and Narok leading in the number of cases, a study shows.

A majority of the victims were either attacked by assailants known to them, due to unresolved conflicts at the family or community levels, or the killings were fueled by the growing culture of violence.

The research by National Crime Research Centre (NCRC) found out that 70 per cent of the victims were male. Nairobi County recorded 80 homicides, followed by Kilifi 47, Homa Bay 42 while Kiambu and Narok tied at 41 cases.

Following a surge in killings, the study sought to analyse patterns and trends of homicides, to provide an explanation of the causes, drivers and conditions responsible for the surge and assess criminal justice preventive and response measures and their adequacy in dealing with homicides in the 15 counties that were targeted.

The counties were Vihiga, Busia, Kakamega, Embu, Isiolo, Homa Bay, Kisii, Kisumu, Nakuru, Narok, Kilifi, Mombasa, Kiambu, Nyeri, and Nairobi.

In Kenya, homicide offences are provided for in the Penal Code (Division IV), and include murder, manslaughter, infanticide and offences connected to suicide.

Notably, the study relied on Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) data for analysis since it was made available as a detailed record of incidents, capturing information on circumstances, motive and context.

“These detailed accounts made it possible to undertake various kinds of analyses that would not be possible with annual summary statistics,” says the survey released yesterday.

According a summary of DCI, which covered all the 47 counties, Garissa recorded 12 homicides, Mandera 8, Wajir 4, Embu 38, Kitui 35, Meru 28, Machakos 21, Makueni 20, Tharaka Nithi 15, Isiolo 7, Marsabit 2, Migori 40, Kisumu 32, Kisii 28, Siaya 22, Nyamira 18, Kwale 26, Tana River 27, Mombasa 25, Lamu 8, Taita-Taveta 8, while Vihiga had 27 cases.

Bungoma reported 22 homicides, Busia 8, Kakamega 29, Murang’a 26, Nyeri 16, Kirinyaga 6, Nyandarua 4, Trans-Nzoia 37, Nakuru 29, Bomet 21, Turkana 19, Elgeyo-Marakwet 18, Baringo 15, Kajiado 17, Kericho 12, Laikipia 5, Nandi 4, Uasin Gishu 6, and Samburu 12 bringing the total number to 1,011 cases. 

“Of these, 70 per cent of the victims were male with females accounting for 30 percent. In terms of perpetrators, 630 were male and 88 females with several cases where the perpetrator was not known. There were 149 incidents where the perpetrators were unknown,” says the study.

It was established that 82.8 per cent of the suspected perpetrators were known. The data was based on incidents reported to the police and recorded in the Occurrence Book.

“Given the gravity of homicide, it is correct to conclude that these incidents represent a fair picture of the problem. There are, of course, other incidents that never reach the police and never get reported,” says the study titled Homicides in Kenya.

Some of the locations where homicide is likely to take place were identified as informal settlements in urban areas, places where land conflicts are widespread, places experiencing inter-ethic or inter-communal conflicts, domestic and private spaces, and public spaces.

The study established that there were a mix of conditions that explain homicides with the killings linked to unresolved conflicts at the family and social levels, psychosocial and mental health problems, economic stressors and limited youth opportunities, cultural beliefs and societal norms, and institutional and leadership failures.

Some of the recommendations made include the need to strengthen and improve the quality of police investigations, enhance police capacity for forensic analysis, strengthen the Directorate of Homicide Investigations, and operationalise the National Coroners Service Act.

“While Kenya enacted the National Coroners Service Act of 2017 to provide a framework for investigations and determination of the cause of reported sudden, unexplained and unnatural deaths, it is yet to be operationalised. The Act needs to be operationalised and the service established to address the gaps in determining these deaths,” says the study.

Other recommendations are promoting public trust in criminal justice system, National Police Service to address cases that remain unresolved, educating public about plea bargain, bail and bond, enhancing capacity of Government Chemist, strengthening support to victims of crimes, addressing the problem of alcohol, drugs and substance abuse, and addressing harmful cultural practices and patriarchal norms.