Abstract:
Unlike crimes committed against tourists or police officers, the annual crime statistics released by
the Kenya National Police Service do not reflect crimes committed against university students per
se. While there is substantial evidence on the extent and characteristics of criminal victimisation
in the general population, as well as among university students in America and the West, evidence
on this subject in Sub-Saharan Africa is drawn from limited studies. To date, the extent and
characteristics of criminal victimisation among university students in Kenya are yet to be
examined. While using a quantitative approach and a survey research design, a sample size of 1717
respondents was randomly computed from a population of 17167 individuals at a peri-urban
university, west of Kenya, to determine the relationship between victimisation and sociodemographic factors and risky lifestyle exposure characteristics. Findings indicate that sociodemographic variables such as age, marital status, employment status, and residence were
significantly related to victimisation. Additionally, risky lifestyle activities such as frequenting
bars, socialising with strangers, partying on and off campus, and abusing bhang (a derivative of
cannabis) and alcohol were significantly related to victimisation. To reduce student victimisation,
we recommend the design of effective victimisation reduction advertisements and investment in
on-campus housing.