Homicide detectives and members of the public retrieve the body of Jane Wambui Njoroge, a clinical officer, from a shallow grave at her compound in Raini area, in Naivasha.
For several reasons, including high murder rates, family disputes, community conflicts, and a rising culture of violence and death rates, one is more likely to die in Nairobi than in any other county in Kenya, according to new research.
The research by the National Crime Research Centre (NCRC) showed that 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.
The majority of the victims were either attacked by assailants they knew, due to unresolved family or community conflicts, or the killings were fuelled by the growing culture of violence.
Nairobi County recorded the highest number of cases, with 80. This was followed by Kilifi with 47 cases, Homa Bay with 42 cases, and Kiambu and Narok with 41 cases each.
The study found that homicides were predominantly concentrated in poorer neighbourhoods, particularly in informal settlements and slums. In Nairobi City County, for example, 70 per cent of homicides occurred in Eastlands, specifically in the Starehe/Kamukunji, Kariobangi, Kayole, Mathare, Embakasi, Njiru and Kasarani areas, a pattern that was also evident in other urban centres.
DCI homicide detectives put sacks with human bodies recovered from the Kware dumpsite into body bags.
Homicides were also prevalent in areas affected by land disputes and inter-ethnic or inter-communal conflicts, as well as in private settings such as homes, rental apartments, hotels, and short-stay accommodations. Poorly lit streets, dark alleys and entertainment zones, especially at night, were also identified as high-risk locations.
The study analysed homicide trends, identified underlying causes and assessed the effectiveness of prevention and response measures in the criminal justice system across 15 counties: Vihiga, Busia, Kakamega, Embu, Isiolo, Homa Bay, Kisii, Kisumu, Nakuru, Narok, Kilifi, Mombasa, Kiambu, Nyeri and Nairobi.
Researchers relied on detailed records from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), which provided comprehensive information on each incident.
“These detailed accounts enabled analyses that would not have been possible using only annual summary statistics,” the study notes.
The study found that men were primarily affected by incidents involving cattle rustling, communal conflicts, drunken altercations, land disputes and mob violence triggered by suspected theft.
By contrast, women were predominantly killed in incidents of domestic violence, disputes over land or property succession, love triangles, and other crimes of passion.
“In some areas, perpetrators targeted employed individuals and business owners. In others, elderly women, particularly those living alone in rural areas while their husbands worked in towns, were frequently subjected to rape and lethal attacks. The report titled Study on Homicides in Kenya states that women travelling home from funeral vigils and disco matanga events in places such as Busia were also singled out.
Overall, men constituted the vast majority of both homicide victims and perpetrators. Women were predominantly victims, with relatively few cases involving female offenders.
The NCRC undertook this research following a surge in homicide cases, including high-profile killings of women and girls in 2024, which sparked widespread public and official concern.
The findings revealed that there was no single cause behind the killings, but rather multiple factors intersecting at individual, family and societal levels. Land conflicts were a key driver, frequently leading to disputes within families, between neighbours, and among business partners, and fuelling animosity between communities. Family succession disputes and disagreements over land transactions were often cited as triggers.
A breakdown across all 47 counties shows Garissa had 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, Vihiga 27, Bungoma 22 and Busia 8.
Homicide detectives mark bags with human remains recovered from the Kware dumpsite on July 13, 2024.
Kakamega had 29 homicides, 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.
The study indicates that in 2024, 70 per cent of victims were male and 30 per cent female, while the majority of perpetrators were male; 630 male perpetrators versus 88 females. In 149 cases, the perpetrator could not be identified.
Overall, 82.8 per cent of suspected attackers were known to the victims, according to police records.
“Given the gravity of homicide, it is reasonable to conclude that these incidents provide a fair picture of the problem. Of course, other cases never reach the police and go unreported,” the study added.
The study recommends strengthening police investigations, enhancing forensic capacity and boosting the Directorate of Homicide Investigations. It also recommends the operationalisation of the National Coroners Service Act.
“Although Kenya enacted the National Coroners Service Act in 2017 to provide a framework for investigating and determining the causes of sudden, unexplained and unnatural deaths, the Act has yet to be implemented. The Act must be implemented and the service established to address the current shortcomings in determining such deaths,” the report adds.
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