Kenya Records Highest Levels of Criminal Activity in East Africa

The country is witnessing increased criminal activity while the resilience of the populace is diminishing.

During the launch of the Africa Organised Crime Index in Nairobi, it was revealed that this dangerous alliance has the capacity to challenge state establishments. The organization responsible for the index, Enact, not only exposes the extent of illegal conduct but also evaluates nations according to various criminal sectors. Regrettably, Kenya is positioned as the most unfavourable out of the nine countries in the East Africa region.

Kenya ranks among the leading African countries in the heroin trade, human trafficking, arms trafficking, and cyber-dependent crimes. In terms of the heroin trade, Kenya stands alongside South Africa at the forefront. In the realm of criminal markets, Kenya is surpassed only by Nigeria. During the launch event, Gladwell Otieno, the Africa Centre for Open Governance executive director, stressed the significance of fostering resilience across the continent. She further encouraged leaders to perceive the index as a chance for growth rather than a harsh critique.

Director of Security Expertise Criminologue Dr Luchetu Likaka expresses a critical perspective on the escalating criminal activities, specifically the role played by state actors. He indicates that the involvement of investigators, politicians, and prosecutors only amplifies the situation. The National Security report addresses the rising concerns around cybercrime and increased post-election crimes, also revealing a 16% rise in general crime levels. These results underpin the conclusion from the crime index report.

Mr Halkano Wario, Coordinator of the East Africa Regional Organized Crime Observatory, emphasizes that it’s not solely the state’s responsibility to address crime, as private sector actors have mass involvement in these criminal activities. As a result, they too should be thoroughly considered. His concern is that with the rise in political turmoil in the continent, the people’s resilience would diminish more while crime persists. The report discloses a steep incline in organized crime, with a staggering 83 per cent of the global population living in conditions characterized by high criminality.