Assessment Of The Role Of Nyumba Kumi Initiative On Crime Reduction Within Kiambio Slums, Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

Nyumba Kumi Initiative is an approach to policing that brings together the police, civil society and local communities to develop local solutions to safety and security concerns. This study sought to assess the role of this Initiative on crime reduction within Kiambio slums, Nairobi County. The study was guided by four specific objectives; to explore the residents perception on Nyumba Kumi Initiative as crime reduction platform to articulate the influence of Nyumba Kumi Initiative and police partnership on crime reduction, to assess the influence of the Initiative crime prevention strategies on crime reduction within Kiambio slums, Nairobi County and to appraise the role of Nyumba Kumi Initiative in crime mapping and analysis within Kiambio Slums, Nairobi County. Social Disorganization, Normative Sponsorship and Durkheim Anomie Theories were utilized in addressing the theoretical background of the study as well as linking them to the study objectives. Descriptive research design was utilized as the methodology for carrying out research. The target population for this study comprised police officers both junior and senior, non-governmental organizations, the National Crime Research Centre employees, Nyumba Kumi officials and community policing members. Simple random sampling was utilized and the sample size was 159 respondents. The data collection methods that was adopted was both quantitative and qualitative in nature; the questionnaire were administered to the youth while the key informant interviews was conducted among the religious leaders such pastors, bishops, priests and Muslim Imams and Sheikhs within the area, administrative official, NGO representative and youth leaders. The quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics while the qualitative data was presented through content analysis as obtained from the field exercise. The findings of the study show that a larger portion of the households agreed that the police frequently involve households in crime reduction. Additionally the study noted that a great portion of the households that the police are utilizing communication technology as one of the Nyumba kumi initiative in crime reduction. It is recommended by the study further that there is a need to improve detection techniques; employing of more police officers; bettering equipments, using technology, using of equipment for detection and making of proactive arrests in relation to problem solving as strategy for Nyumba Kumi initiative utilized to deal with criminal activities.